Toulon naval base to simulate nuclear accident - public to get phone alert

Residents and visitors in and around Toulon (Var) will receive an alert warning on their phones tomorrow (April 2) as part of a wider two-day nuclear accident training exercise.

The ‘PPI Toulon 2026’ training exercise simulates a nuclear accident at the city’s naval base, where six nuclear submarines are held alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

The two-day exercise will begin with a simulated breach in a nuclear submarine’s circuit room today, leading to a rapid temperature rise on the ship before a series of unknown developments staff must tackle. 

"In nuclear matters, improvisation is impossible, hence the need for training,” Mediterranean Maritime Prefect Christophe Lucas told France Bleu. 

“Even if zero risk does not exist, the scenario described represents an extremely low probability and has never occurred anywhere in the world,” he added.

The first part of the exercise will focus solely on staff at the nuclear base, before it is expanded to include members of the public.

Emergency sirens in the city will ring exceptionally at some point on Thursday (they usually only ring at midday on the first of the month) and everyone in a five-kilometre radius will receive an alert message on their phones. 

Sent through the FR-Alert warning system, messages will arrive even if phones are switched off. They will be based on geo-location data and so will go to everyone in the area at the time, including tourists and other visitors.

Previous trials of the system have seen messages sent in other languages including English, based on data the system knows about the phone (operating language, contract supplier, etc).

The message will state that it is being sent as part of a simulation, and that a genuine incident is not taking place.

Outside of the simulation at the naval base, there should be no disruption to public services including trains (both high-speed and regional services) nor to road traffic.

Note however that truckers are planning protests on the A8 near Fréjus on April 1, which may affect traffic in and around Toulon. 

Residents should remind themselves of emergency plans

The training exercise comes in light of increased tensions following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, and acts as a timely reminder of the best practices residents can take in the event of a disaster. 

Those within an immediate radius of the base should ensure they have iodine tablets stocked at home in case of a nuclear leak, and they should know how to prepare their home in case of an incident. 

Last year, France published a survival guide titled ‘Tous Responsables’, highlighting best practices in the event of a series of incidents including a nuclear accident. 

The online pamphlet details the equipment all homes should have in a 72-hour survival kit, as well as provide specific information about what to do in a nuclear event. 

It also offers advice on how to keep up to date with news in the event of such an incident.