Lithuania and Latvia will test cross-border evacuations in joint drills

Lithuania and Latvia will hold their first joint practical exercises for evacuating residents across the border on November 5 and 10, testing procedures in both directions, LRT reported, citing the Fire and Rescue Department.

On Thursday, volunteers will simulate an evacuation from Daugavpils to Pasvalys via Jēkabpils. On November 10, the exercise will run in the opposite direction, from Šiauliai to Ķekava in Latvia. Up to 100 volunteers will take part over the two days, travelling by bus across the border.

The drills are intended to test how the two countries’ institutions coordinate evacuations during a potential threat or large-scale crisis. The scenario involves a growing, unspecified threat in the Baltic region prompting a decision to carry out a voluntary preventive evacuation of priority groups to a neighbouring country.

The exercises will test the process from alerting and registering residents to transport, handover at the border, reception and provision of essential needs. Organisers will also assess coordination and support for people who may need additional assistance, including people with disabilities, families with young children and older people. They will examine how services would be maintained if electricity or communications were disrupted.

The Fire and Rescue Department said the drills were planned in advance and were not related to any change in the security situation or a specific threat to residents. Volunteers will act as evacuees, and all activities will follow prepared scenarios.

The exercises are part of a joint Lithuanian and Latvian project to develop coordinated mass-evacuation procedures in the border region and strengthen cooperation between institutions and public preparedness. The project also includes analysis of the countries’ evacuation systems, joint procedures, recommendations and training.