28 May 2025

False Alarm at Koeberg: Emergency Siren Accidentally Activated During Maintenance

Residents in Sunningdale near Koeberg Nuclear Power Station experienced a brief scare today when an emergency siren was accidentally activated during routine maintenance work. Eskom has confirmed there is no emergency situation at the nuclear facility.

What Happened

At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, Siren 913—located in the green belt opposite West Coast Village in Sunningdale—emitted a brief alarm tone. The activation was unintentional and occurred while maintenance personnel were conducting routine work on the system.

Eskom has emphasized that the incident has no impact on the normal operations of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, and no action is required from members of the public.

About the Notification System

The accidentally triggered siren is one of more than 80 sirens that form part of Koeberg's Public Notification System. This network supports the Koeberg Nuclear Emergency Plan, which would be activated in the unlikely event of an actual emergency at the facility.

According to Eskom, regular testing and maintenance are conducted on these sirens to ensure the system remains fully operational and responsive should it ever be needed in a genuine emergency situation.

Outlook

While false alarms can cause public concern, particularly around nuclear facilities, the incident demonstrates that the emergency notification infrastructure is receiving regular maintenance. Koeberg's operational status remains normal, with both units currently online following the completion of Unit 2's refueling outage in December 2024.

The power utility apologized for any concern or inconvenience caused by the unintentional activation.

Key Terms Explained

Koeberg Nuclear Emergency Plan: A comprehensive safety protocol designed to protect the public in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident at Koeberg. The plan includes evacuation procedures, communication systems, and emergency response coordination between Eskom, local authorities, and emergency services.

Public Notification System: A network of sirens and other communication tools designed to alert communities within the vicinity of Koeberg in case of an emergency. The system undergoes regular testing to ensure reliability.