Sirens sounded across Poland on Tuesday as the country launched ALARM-26, a nationwide civil defence exercise running from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Organised by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Government Centre for Security and the Ministry of National Defence, the drill tests the effectiveness of the warning and alert system against aerial threats.
During the exercise, two signals are broadcast: a three-minute modulated tone announcing an alert, followed by a three-minute continuous tone signalling its cancellation. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm, stressing the sirens do not indicate any real danger. Testing could extend into Wednesday if needed.
Poland currently has 1,903 registered shelters, each with an average capacity of roughly 300 people.