Overview

• Bavaria experienced a significant technical glitch where sirens in three counties, including Coburg, Kronach, and Lichtenfels, failed to stop after the scheduled alert, prompting emergency manual shutdowns and repeat tests the same evening.
• A programming error caused sirens in parts of Bavaria to continue sounding for up to 45 minutes, highlighting the need for further system refinements and investments in siren infrastructure.
• In Hessen and other participating states, a failure in the Modulares Warnsystem disrupted the activation of warning apps, though other channels like sirens and Cell Broadcast alerts ensured public reach.
• The Warntag aimed to test the effectiveness of a multi-channel warning system, including sirens, mobile apps, Cell Broadcast, and public displays, with some states introducing a new continuous tone for 'all-clear' signals.
• Officials emphasized the importance of these tests for identifying system weaknesses, with ongoing efforts to expand and modernize warning infrastructure, particularly in regions like Bavaria, which faces a significant siren shortage.