A tsunami alert was sent to phones across Cadiz province on Thursday as part of an unprecedented drill.
Footage shared on X shows the moment a piercing sound alerted residents via their devices, along with a message from the government.
The text made it clear at the top of the warning that the alarm was just a simulation.
The message was written in Spanish and English, given the high number of British expats and visitors in Cadiz.
It read: ‘Drill Drill, tsunami warning that may affect the Atlantic coast, move away from the beach towards the established areas as meeting points, or at a height higher than three floors.’
It then offered a link showing where the meeting points were located.
The major exercise, called ‘Respuest@_25’, is testing how emergency services, public bodies and the population respond to a scenario similar to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
As part of the drill, an imagined 7.6 quake ‘struck’ south-west of Cape St Vincent, triggering a tsunami warning along the Andalucian coast.
Although Cadiz is the central focus, towns including Chipiona, Sanlucar, Rota, Conil, Los Barrios, Puerto Real and La Línea also activated their local emergency plans.
Public buildings, schools and participating companies will take part in the coordinated drill, including evacuations.
Traffic is expected to be affected across Cadiz throughout the morning.
Many streets within the old town will be closed to vehicles for the duration of the exercise, although the perimeter ring road around the historic centre will remain open.
The main disruptions were expected to begin at around 10am and last until approximately 11am, though police may adjust timings depending on how the drill unfolds.
Despite the closures, city bus routes will operate normally. Local police officers will be stationed throughout the area to manage traffic flow and guide drivers and pedestrians safely as the simulation progresses.
