Shelter situation in rural areas remains difficult: people would hide in basements, churches

Lithuania’s shelter network remains underdeveloped, with rural areas facing particular challenges, LRT reports. In many locations, shelters are either absent or in poor condition, forcing residents to seek refuge in basements or churches during emergencies.

In Pakruojis district, the town of Linkuva stands out with relatively well-prepared shelters. The local social services centre has facilities capable of accommodating around 500 people, equipped with seating, sleeping areas, and water supplies. Additional shelters are available in the gymnasium, cultural centre, and a special boarding school.

“We have shelters in Linkuva gymnasium, in the cultural centre, in the special boarding school—so we, the people of Linkuva, more or less have places to hide,” said Regina Vaičaitė, director of the Linkuva Social Services Centre.

However, other rural areas in the district fare worse. In Rozalimas, the only shelter is in the church, which can temporarily hold about 100 people. Basements are not prepared, and even the church may not be safe, according to local priest Andrius Valčiukas.

“The basement itself is quite solid. But if the church were a direct target, it would be very difficult because there is no emergency exit—only the main church entrance. So if it were a direct hit, it would be dangerous to be here,” Valčiukas explained.

Across Pakruojis district, there are 23 shelters, mostly in educational institutions. The municipality states it is not allocating additional funds but is using project-based financing. Five shelters have already been upgraded with ramps for disabled access, ventilation systems, blackout measures, and generators. Another five are set for improvements with €200,000 allocated for the next phase.

Civil defence specialists advise those in areas without shelters to take cover in windowless interior rooms, following the “two walls” rule. Outdoors, they recommend using ditches, transport tunnels, or underground garages.