Short answer. Chile's main public warning channel is the SAE (Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia), a cell broadcast message SENAPRED sends to all compatible phones in an area when people must evacuate: tsunami, wildfire, volcanic eruption or mudflow 1. Tests run every Wednesday and Thursday at 11:00 in selected communes 1. A national network of about 1,003 tsunami sirens is tendered, with full commissioning scheduled for the second half of 2031 4.
What is the SAE?
SENAPRED describes it this way: "El Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia para celulares (SAE) permite enviar mensajes a todos los teléfonos compatibles. Su objetivo es alertar a la población para evacuar zonas de riesgo frente a emergencias como tsunamis, incendios forestales, erupciones volcánicas o aluviones" 1. In short: a message to every compatible phone, sent so people leave risk areas.
The message is broadcast to compatible phones in the affected area 1; SENAPRED lists no official alert app 5.
When are SAE tests run, and what do they say?
Tests run every Wednesday and Thursday at 11:00 in selected communes; 65 communes are scheduled in 2026 1. A test reads:
SENAPRED: PRUEBA del Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia para [commune name], [abbreviated region name].
If your commune was tested and your phone showed nothing, mobile operators provide a form on their websites to report non-reception within 48 hours after the test 1.
Does Chile have tsunami sirens?
A national network is being procured. The Ministry of Public Works tendered the Tsunami Early Warning System as a public works concession in December 2025 4:
| Element | Detail 4 |
|---|---|
| New sirens | About 1,003, on 11 m steel poles with solar panels and batteries |
| Existing sirens integrated | 26 (7 in Arica y Parinacota, 19 in O'Higgins) |
| Sirens removed | 33 non-integrable (Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Maule) |
| Activation | Remotely, by redundant satellite links, on warnings from SENAPRED's Early Warning Units |
| Schedule | Full commissioning in the second half of 2031 |
The tender describes their purpose: "Estas sirenas emiten una onda sonora que, en caso de riesgo alerta a la población, para que se traslade a las zonas seguras establecidas en los planes de evacuación de cada localidad" 4. The current installation status was not confirmed, so do not assume a siren covers your area today.
Should I wait for an alert before evacuating from the coast?
No. If you are in a tsunami evacuation area, a quake that makes it hard to stand, or the sea receding unusually, is itself the signal to evacuate immediately to high ground 2. Do not wait for a phone message or a siren. See the Chile public shelters page for meeting points and our tsunami guide.
Where can I follow official alerts?
SENAPRED posts current alerts on senapred.cl and on X (@senapred), Telegram (t.me/SenapredChile), a WhatsApp channel, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube 5. No official SENAPRED alert app is listed. A battery radio, which is on SENAPRED's kit list, keeps you informed if the mobile network fails; see our emergency radio guide.
What is the legal basis?
Law 21.364 of 2021, article 38, creates the Sistema de Alerta Temprana (Early Warning System), with a national Early Warning Unit and at least one regional unit in each region 3.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get SAE alerts on any phone?
SAE messages go to all compatible phones in the affected area 1. Watch for the weekly tests in your commune; if nothing arrives, report it to your operator within 48 hours 1.
Which hazards trigger an SAE alert?
Emergencies that require evacuating risk zones, such as tsunamis, wildfires, volcanic eruptions and mudflows 1.
Are the new tsunami sirens working?
The concession was tendered in December 2025 and full commissioning is scheduled for the second half of 2031 4. Current installation status was not confirmed.
Is there an official SENAPRED app?
None is listed. SENAPRED uses its website and social media channels 5.
Sources
- SENAPRED — Pruebas SAE — https://senapred.cl/pruebas-sae/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- SENAPRED — Tsunami — https://senapred.cl/tsunami/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (LeyChile) — Ley 21.364 — Establece el Sistema Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres, sustituye la Oficina Nacional de Emergencia por el Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres — https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1163423 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerio de Obras Públicas — Dirección General de Concesiones — Licitación Concesión Sistema Nacional de Alerta Temprana de Tsunami — https://concesiones.mop.gob.cl/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/7.-Sistema-de-Alerta-de-Tsunami-Dic-25.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- SENAPRED — SENAPRED | Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres (home page) — https://senapred.cl/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- SENAPRED · Pruebas SAE checked 2026-10-20
- SENAPRED · Tsunami checked 2026-10-20
- Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (LeyChile) · Ley 21.364 — Establece el Sistema Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres, sustituye la Oficina Nacional de Emergencia por el Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerio de Obras Públicas — Dirección General de Concesiones · Licitación Concesión Sistema Nacional de Alerta Temprana de Tsunami checked 2026-10-20
- SENAPRED · SENAPRED | Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres (home page) checked 2026-10-20