State of emergency declared over Jūrę reservoir dam in Kazlų Rūda municipality

A state of emergency has been declared in Kazlų Rūda municipality due to the condition of the Jūrę reservoir dam, the municipality announced on Friday.

The decision was made by Kazlų Rūda mayor Mantas Varaška, following a recommendation from the municipality’s emergency operations centre. The emergency applies to the area of Jūrę reservoir and its dam in Jūrę village.

According to the municipality, the emergency was declared after assessing the dam’s current condition and potential risks to human life, health, property, and the environment. The dam’s critical state was first identified in 2018.

Earlier this year, the municipality secured a contractor to carry out repair work, which requires lowering the water level in the reservoir—a process that needs approval from the Environmental Protection Agency. However, bureaucratic delays have prevented the necessary permits from being obtained in time, prompting the emergency declaration.

The municipality stated that the emergency is a necessary civil protection measure.

In 2023, Kazlų Rūda municipality faced an ecological disaster when the collapse of the Pilvė-Vabalkšnė reservoir dam led to the death of thousands of fish. The incident was attributed to the dam owner’s faulty equipment, possible improper implementation of a water-level reduction permit, and a critical drop in water levels due to hydrological drought in the region.