IT-alert: upcoming tests in Emilia-Romagna and the Autonomous Province of Trento
The system will be tested for large dam collapses and major industrial accidents
In October 2025, Emilia-Romagna and the Autonomous Province of Trento will test the national public warning system in two scenarios: the collapse of large dams and major accidents at industrial facilities subject to the Seveso Directive.
The test message will be sent to active mobile phones connected to the telephone network in the designated target areas, following this schedule:
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Large dam collapse
• October 7, 2025, 11 am – Suviana dam
Affected municipalities: Castel di Casio; Camugnano; Grizzana Morandi, Gaggio Montano, Vergato; Marzabotto, Sasso Marconi, Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna, Castel Maggiore, Calderara di Reno, Bentivoglio, San Giorgio di Piano, Argelato, Sala Bolognese, Castello d’Argile
• October 9, 2025, 11 am – Molato dam
Affected municipalities: Alta Val Tidone, Pianello V.T., Borgonovo V.T., Agazzano, Gragnano Trebbiense, Rottofreno, Sarmato
Major industrial accident
• October 15, 2025, 10 am – Zannoni S.R.L., Forlì
• October 15, 2025, 11 am – Eurogas Energia S.R.L., Casalgrande and Sassuolo
AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO
Large dam collapse
• October 16, 2025, 10:00 – Forte Buso dam
Affected municipalipties in the Province of Trento: Predazzo, Ziano di Fiemme, Panchià, Tesero, Cavalese, Castello-Molina di Fiemme, Capriana, Valfloriana, Altavalle, Sover, Segonzano, Cembra-Lisignago, Lona-Lases, Albiano, Giovo, Lavis, Terre d’Adige, Vallelaghi, Trento, Aldeno, Besenello, Nomi, Calliano, Volano, Pomarolo, Villa Lagarina, Rovereto, Nogaredo, Isera, Mori, Ala, Avio; Affected municipalities in the Province of Bolzano: Anterivo – Altrei
The test message to the population in the municipalities that could be affected by the flood wave resulting from the dam collapse will read as follows:
TEST TEST This is an IT-alert TEST MESSAGE. There is an ongoing SIMULATION of a dam collapse in the area where you are. To learn what message you will receive in case of real danger and to fill out the survey, go to www.it-alert.gov.it/en TEST TEST
While in the event of a major industrial accident, the population within approximately a 2 km radius around the facility will receive the following message:
TEST TEST This is an IT-alert TEST MESSAGE. There is an ongoing SIMULATION of an accident at an industrial facility in the area where you are. To learn what message you will receive in case of real danger and to fill out the survey, go to www.it-alert.gov.it/en TEST TEST
On test days, the homepage of this website will feature a link to a survey, which residents in the affected areas are encouraged to complete, even if they do not receive any notification.
The test date may be subject to change if regional civil protection systems are activated due to weather alerts or other emergencies.
"Collapse of a large dam" refers to the collapse of the dam structure itself or the occurrence of damages to the dam or landslides that lead to the uncontrolled release of water, such as to reasonably assume the occurrence of a catastrophic event, which generally causes a flood wave and the subsequent flooding of downstream areas. Large dams are regulated by the Directive of the President of the Council of Ministers of July 8, 2014, on "Operational guidelines concerning civil protection activities within basins where large dams are present."
When a risk related to the structural strength of a large dam occurs, it is referred to as "dam risk," which entails four alert phases (pre-alert, reinforced alert, danger, and collapse).
Each dam is required to have a Civil Protection Document (DP), which defines the specific conditions for the activation of the civil protection system, communications, and technical-administrative procedures to be implemented in case of risk, and a Dam Emergency Plan (DEP), which outlines the areas potentially affected by the flood wave, operational strategies, and the intervention model to face the emergency.
IT-alert would be activated in case of collapse of a large dam, that is, a retaining structure exceeding 15 meters in height or resulting in a reservoir volume exceeding 1,000,000 cubic meters.
In case of real danger from a large dam collapse, cell phones in the municipalities potentially affected by the flood wave will receive such an IT-alert message:
▪ Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 - XYZ DAM COLLAPSE in the Municipality of XYZ (PROVINCE): possible flash flood. STAY AWAY FROM WATERCOURSES and reach high areas. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
However, there may be devices present in areas affected by the emergency that will not receive the message. This is caused by one of the limits of cell-broadcast technology: the impossibility of perfectly overlaying the area potentially affected by the emergency with the area covered by the antennas of the telephone operators used to send the messages.
Major accident means an event such as a significant emission, fire, or explosion due to uncontrolled developments occurring during the operation of an industrial facility classified as a major-accident hazard by Legislative Decree No. 105 of June 26, 2015 - Implementation of Directive 2012/18/UE of the European Parliament and of the Council on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, and which results in an immediate or delayed major hazard for human health and the environment, either inside or outside the facility, and in which one or more hazardous substances are involved.
Each industrial facility must have an External emergency plan (EEP) containing damage mitigation measures outside the facility and an Internal Emergency Plan (IEP), including damage mitigation measures inside the facility.
IT-alert would be activated for possible accident scenarios affecting the facility.
In case of real danger from a major accident at an industrial facility, cell phone users in the areas near the affected facilities will receive such an IT-alert message:
▪ Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 - Accident at the XYZ industrial facility involving hazardous substances in the Municipality of XYZ (PROVINCE). FIND INDOOR SHELTER AND DO NOT GO NEAR the facility (E04). Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
However, there may be devices present in areas affected by the emergency that will not receive the message. This is caused by one of the limits of cell-broadcast technology: the impossibility of perfectly overlaying the area potentially affected by the emergency with the area covered by the antennas of the telephone operators used to send the messages.