UK-wide ‘Armageddon alert’ to be sent to millions of Brits’ phones causing alarm

Another “Armageddon alert” will be sent to millions of Brits’ phones during a nationwide test of the emergency alarm system.

The Government warning will be sent to all 4G and 5G phones within range, causing them to vibrate and emit a loud siren for up to 10 seconds. This is estimated to affect 87 million devices.

The alert system was first trialled in 2023 and has since been used in emergencies such as Storm Darragh in December, which hit over 3 million people with stay-at-home warnings to avoid the dangerous 90mph winds.

Ministers now want another alert sent out nationwide to ensure the country is best prepared to deal with future emergencies.

The previous alert said: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

“In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”

The Storm Darragh message read: “A RED warning for wind has been issued in your area. Extremely strong winds associated with Storm Darragh are expected to cause significant disruption.

“Strong winds can cause flying debris, falling trees and large waves around coastal areas, all of which can present a danger to life.”

Those who receive the emergency alert do not need to do anything other than swipe the message away or click “OK” on the home screen.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden told the Mirror: “Most countries that have this system test it quite regularly, so we don’t want it just to be once years ago, and then everybody forgets it exists.

“This should be part of our armoury in warning people about major risks.”

The US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan all have similar emergency alerts for dangerous situations such as severe weather events.

Anyone can opt out of receiving the Government alert, although this is not advised. It also doesn’t mean the Government can access everyone’s phone numbers as the message is sent via mobile phone masts, not text.