Cyprus has activated a new emergency‑alert function within the SafeCY mobile application, allowing authorities to send real‑time warnings to residents during security incidents, natural hazards or other urgent situations, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy said Wednesday.
Deputy Minister Nikodimos Damianou said strengthening rapid public‑alert mechanisms remains a top government priority, noting that technology is now “an essential tool” for timely protection of citizens.
The upgraded SafeCY app enables push notifications to users who have installed the latest version. Civil Defence officials can target alerts to specific geographic areas or send them nationwide. All users can view the full list of issued alerts within the app, regardless of their location.
The new feature complements the SMS warning system tested last week with telecom providers, which the ministry said produced “very satisfactory results.” Sirens and local‑authority announcements remain the primary emergency‑notification channels.
Damianou said the broader Early Warning System based on cell‑broadcast technology — capable of reaching all mobile phones in a defined area — is under implementation and scheduled to go live in early June.
SafeCY has already surpassed 170,000 downloads, and citizens are encouraged to install or update the app and enable notifications and location access. A dedicated support line at 1450 is now available for assistance.
The deputy minister thanked the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus for its role in developing the upgraded system, adding that the government remains committed to strengthening crisis‑management tools and public‑information capabilities.