Loud warning signals will sound in Quarteira and Vilamoura next week as part of acoustics tests for a new tsunami and emergency alert system.
The municipal council of Loulé announced the test will take place from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on September 30, with seven sirens set to sound in key spots along the coast, including Vilamoura Marina, the GNR station, Quarteira Municipal Pools, Vilamoura Beach, Largo das Cortes Reais, near Hotel D. José, and eastern Quarteira.
With 14km of coastline and a documented propensity for earthquakes, Loulé has been ramping up its disaster-preparedness efforts. Evacuation routes and safe meeting points have already been marked across the area. The sirens are the latest step, installed under the international UNESCO Tsunami Ready programme, which aims to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.
Authorities are asking for residents’ understanding during the tests, which may cause some disruption. For more details, the public can contact Loulé’s municipal civil protection service.
