Panic after nuclear false alarm

7 October 2004

BRUSSELS – Residents of the Huy area were thrown into panic on Thursday after a worker at a nearby nuclear power station accidentally set off the wrong alarm button.

A test of electronic sirens that had already been scheduled went wrong when the person in charge of the exercise accidentally set off a spoken alarm instead.

As a result of the gaffe, a recorded voice told local residents to shut their doors and windows and listen to the radio, without being informed that it was a test.

Local emergency services were inundated with worried calls and people were spotted fleeing in the cars dressed only in pyjamas.

The directorate general of civil security has confirmed that the incident was accidental.

Subject: Belgian News