Manama: Kuwait’s interior ministry said that it would test its warning sirens on Tuesday morning.
The General Department of Civil Defense said that the tests would be conducted starting 10 am and would be across the six governorates making up the northern Arabian Gulf country.
“The tests aim to assure the siren machines are working properly and to make citizens and residents aware of the various indications of the sirens’ tones,” the Security Media Department said in a press statement.
“The tests will also serve to remind citizens and residents of the necessary safety precautions that must be taken in case of emergency or danger,” the department said in a statement carried by Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).
An advanced siren system is installed across Kuwait and it features three different tones or sounds, each with different meaning.
A single but intermittent tone indicates imminent/possible danger (caution/warning), while a wave sound (continuous ascending and descending tone) indicates something has already happened or is taking place (danger/attack). A continuous single pitch tone means that the danger is over (All Clear/Danger has passed).
In December, the ministry said it had updated the early warning system by replacing all mechanical sirens with modern electronic ones.
The new sirens have technical standards which are abreast with modern technology connected with digital communication system (TETRA).
According to the media department, there are 237 sirens across Kuwait, but the number is likely to increase as field studies are conducted on all new residential areas to install the required sirens.
