Lithuania to test emergency warning sirens on Thursday

Lithuania will conduct a nationwide test of its public warning system on Thursday, with emergency sirens sounding for three minutes starting at 11:52 AM, the Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) announced.

The test, described as routine, will also include emergency alerts sent to mobile phones via the LT72 app and SMS notifications. Authorities stressed that the sirens do not indicate a real threat but are part of regular system checks.

Residents are advised to turn on national radio or television upon hearing the sirens or receiving an alert to stay informed—standard procedure in actual emergencies. While alerts are sent to all mobile users, only devices with emergency notification settings enabled will receive them. Instructions for activating these settings are available on the lt72.lt website and app.

After the test, residents are encouraged to report any issues, such as not receiving alerts, via a survey on the same website. Feedback helps identify and resolve gaps in the system’s coverage.

The warning system, designed to alert the public about threats to life, health, or property, undergoes regular testing—typically twice a year, though additional checks may occur if needed. The last test in December 2025 found that 2.6% of the 1,160 sirens nationwide failed to activate, an improvement from the 5.4% failure rate in the previous test.

Currently, the system reaches about 69% of Lithuania’s population. Expansion efforts, including new installations and upgrades, aim to increase coverage to 75% by 2029. “The system must function flawlessly when it matters most,” said PAGD Director Renatas Požėla, emphasizing the importance of ongoing improvements.

The test was originally reported by LRT.