Klaipėda conducts large-scale civil defence drill with focus on evacuating people with disabilities

A major civil defence exercise in Klaipėda tested institutional readiness to respond to a large-scale industrial accident, with special attention given to the evacuation of people with disabilities, Lithuania’s Fire and Rescue Department reported Thursday.

The drill simulated a hazardous incident at a liquid energy products terminal, where a leaking and ignited ethanol spill created risks for nearby districts. Due to potential air contamination, a partial evacuation of residents from the danger zone was carried out.

Participants—including people with disabilities—were registered, transported by designated evacuation buses, and brought to a collective protection facility at Klaipėda’s Tauralaukis Progymnasium, a building fully adapted for accessibility, information provision, registration, and emergency assistance.

Klaipėda Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus stated that the exercise demonstrated the city’s coordinated and responsible approach to crisis scenarios. “This is not a formality but real threat modelling to test our response in critical moments,” he said. “Our priority is ensuring every resident’s safety in emergencies, which is why such drills are essential for both institutions and the community. Involving people with disabilities makes our preparedness real, not theoretical.”

Vidas Kerševičius, head of Klaipėda’s Fire and Rescue Board, emphasised the importance of evaluating practical solutions: “Evacuation must be smooth, clear, and fast. Today, we tested coordination, resident assembly, registration, and sheltering procedures. Evacuating people with disabilities was integrated from the start as an inseparable part of the plan.” He also acknowledged firefighters who tested extinguishing systems and energy company KN Energies for providing access to new equipment.

Marija Bočiarovaitė, representing Lithuania’s Disability Organisations Forum, highlighted the need for inclusion. “People with disabilities face a much higher risk of being left without help in emergencies, often due to insufficient preparation. Safety measures must be developed in collaboration with the disability community,” she said, noting that while challenges remained, regular drills help refine responses based on direct feedback from participants.

The Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, which prioritises safety, treats each exercise as critical for improving emergency response. “Extreme situations bring fear and chaos, so involved agencies must act with focus and precision,” a spokesperson said. The port authority continuously strengthens cooperation with emergency services and city institutions, refining protocols through simulated accidents and incidents.