On Friday, September 19, the 40th anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, a nationwide cell phone alert test will be conducted for the first time, reaching over 80 million people. The alert will be sent at noon to all active cell phones in Mexico, informing recipients of the Second National Drill 2025.
The message will read: “Este es un simulacro, probando la funcionalidad del Sistema Nacional de Alertas.” (This is a simulation, testing the functionality of the National Alert System.)
Starting September 19, the system will be capable of sending earthquake warnings and alerts for hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and other emergencies, National Civil Protection Coordinator Laura Velázquez Alzúa explained at a press conference. It will allow authorities to issue warnings tailored to specific regions or threats, she said.
Velázquez Alzúa emphasized that the use of cell phone alerts in Mexico now aligns with practices in countries like Japan, the United States and South Korea, where such systems have saved lives. However, she said the system will “complement, not replace, traditional warning methods like loudspeakers and media broadcasts.”
The Second National Drill 2025 will simulate the response to an 8.1-magnitude earthquake.
In addition to the cell phone alert, seismic alerts will be activated on 14,491 loudspeakers across 12 states, including Mexico City, Jalisco and Veracruz.