South Australia (SA) on Monday launched a new phone-based bushfire and emergency warning system capable of sending up to 1,000 voice messages every minute and 300 texts every second.

The Emergency Alert system allows for text or voice messages to be sent to mobile phones and landlines in the event of a life - threatening emergency.

The launch followed a successful trial on Kangaroo Island in South Australia earlier this month.

However, Emergency Services Minister Michael Wright said even with the new system people in bushfire areas and those caught up in other emergencies still needed to know where to get up-to-date information.

"Emergency Alert is an extremely valuable system to warn people quickly in an emergency," he said.

"But due to the unpredictable nature of emergencies, it cannot be relied on as the only source of warning or information."

Wright said South Australia was developing a range of communication tools called Alert SA, which would include a dedicated major emergency website.

The government will spend 12.4 million Australian dollars (11 million U.S. dollars) to implement Alert SA over the next five years.

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