Lithuania to install 275 new warning sirens in central and western regions
The Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) has launched one of the largest expansions of Lithuania’s public warning system in recent years, with plans to install 275 new warning sirens in the central and western regions of the country, the Ministry of the Interior announced.
A public tender worth over €3 million was published at the end of June to carry out the work. The new sirens will be installed in Alytus, Kaunas, Marijampolė, Klaipėda, Tauragė, Telšiai, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys counties.
The project includes the installation of the sirens, their connection to power grids and the centralised warning system, as well as the necessary infrastructure and technical documentation.
Acting Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius said strengthening the public warning system is one of the most important investments in public safety. “Timely warning of the population about potential threats or crisis situations is one of the most important elements of the civil protection system. By consistently strengthening the public warning and information system, we increase public safety and the ability to respond to threats in a timely manner,” he said.
According to Kondratovičius, investments in public safety must yield tangible results. Currently, around 69% of Lithuania’s population can be reached by warning sirens. By 2029, once all project activities are implemented, the system will cover about 75% of the population.
PAGD Director Renatas Požėla noted that the installation of new sirens is an important step in strengthening the warning infrastructure in the regions. “The locations for the warning sirens were selected in cooperation with municipalities and coordinated with the owners of buildings and other facilities. By expanding the warning infrastructure, we increase the ability to inform residents as quickly as possible about impending dangers, extreme situations, or crises,” he said.
The siren expansion project is being implemented under the EU co-funded project “Development of Public Warning and Information Infrastructure in Central and Western Lithuania.” The contract duration is expected to be 21 months.
Lithuania currently has 1,173 warning sirens in operation. Upon completion of this project, the number will increase to 1,448, expanding the warning siren network by nearly a quarter. Of these, 527 will be centrally controlled sirens. By 2029, once all investment project activities are completed, 1,448 sirens will be used for public warnings, with PAGD centrally controlling 1,125 of them.