Test alarm: The sirens wailed all over Bavaria at 11 a.m. - why Munich of all places didn't take part

Created: 05/13/2022, 04:52

By: Veronika Mahnkopf

The state capital does not take part in the Bavaria-wide warning day.

© Rolf Poss/Imago

On May 12th, the sirens will sound throughout Bavaria to test and practice in the event of a disaster.

Only in Munich does it remain quiet again - a problem in these times, some find.

Munich – On March 10th, everything was still very fresh, no one wanted to unnecessarily unsettle anyone: Bavaria decided at that time to postpone the planned, state-wide test alarm.

After all, the Ukraine war had just begun, the first refugees arrived in Bavaria and people in this country were extremely insecure.

Test alarm in Munich - without sirens

So now, on Thursday, May 12th, the test alarm is to be made up for.

The aim is for the population to practice how to behave in the event of a disaster.

And how attention is drawn to this catastrophe in the first place.

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Sirens will sound all over Bavaria on Thursday from 11 a.m. - from the smallest district to the big cities.

Just not in Munich.

The state capital does not participate in this exercise, the district administration department fire department announced on request.

The city no longer has any sirens - a fact that has caused people to shake their heads several times.

Test alarm in Bavaria on May 12: Munich no longer has any sirens

Since the end of the Cold War, the city's sirens have been gradually phased out.

This only really caught our attention when, in the course of the corona pandemic, the population of Munich was informed by loudspeaker announcements to please stay at home.

In September 2020, the whole of Germany practiced the disaster and sirens wailed - except in Munich.

For CSU Vice Hans Theiss, this is not an acceptable situation: "A strengthened network of sirens should be the most effective, since everyone can really be reached.

Another argument for this is that a new kind of Cold War is imminent, as the Ukraine war painfully demonstrates.”

Bavaria-wide test alarm: sirens in Munich are to be reactivated

In March 2022, the city wanted to check how a warning from Munich could work.

And whether old sirens could possibly be reactivated.

Of course, warnings are also given in Munich via apps such as Katwarn and loudspeaker announcements.

But not next Thursday, after all, the “alarm system is in continuous use,” according to the fire department.

For example, in the case of bomb finds or large fires.

But this is simply not enough, according to the CSU, for example, as early as 2020.

The Munich city council now wants to deal with the issue of civil protection and warning the population intensively and comprehensively before the summer break, according to the district administration department.

The underlying detailed draft resolution is currently being worked out by the administration.

A nationwide test alarm is to take place again in September 2022.

Maybe the city of Munich will be there this time.

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