Public warning system to be sounded islandwide in Singapore tomorrow

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SINGAPORE (CNA) – The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will sound the ‘Important Message’ signal tomorrow.

The minute-long exercise, which will be sounded through the islandwide network of public warning system (PWS) sirens, will take place at 6.20pm.

“Do not be alarmed by the minute-long sounding exercise,” said SCDF in a news release yesterday.

The signal will also sound for all smartphones that have the SGSecure mobile app and are not on silent or vibration mode.

The signal will stop once the message is acknowledged or cease after 20 seconds, said SCDF. This will be followed by a brief text on the sounding of the public warning system, which takes place annually.

“When you hear the ‘Important Message’ signal, tune in immediately to any local radio station or free-to-air Mediacorp TV channel for a brief message on the PWS.”

The Important Message signal, one of three signals, is sounded to alert the population to an important broadcast.

Tomorrow will be Total Defence Day, the day Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942.

Each year, the Important Message signal of the public warning system is sounded to commemorate the day.

The sounding and broadcast message are also part of SCDF’s efforts to familiarise the public with the public warning system signals and to raise awareness on how the public should react upon hearing the signal.

The city skyline in Singapore. PHOTO: AFP