Riga invites residents to join two-day evacuation exercise

Riga residents are being invited to take part in a practical evacuation exercise on September 18 and 19 as part of the nationwide Namejs 2026 state defence exercises, LSM reports.

The exercise will test the gathering, transportation and reception of residents at an evacuation centre, as well as cooperation between the municipality, emergency services and other involved institutions.

Participants will gather from 3:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 18, on Aleksandra Grina Boulevard near Uzvaras Park. After registering, they will be taken by bus to Riga Arkadia Secondary School at 6 Melnsila Street, where a training evacuation centre will be established.

From 4:15 p.m., participants will take part in practical activities at the centre and stay there overnight. The exercise will end at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, after which buses will take participants back to Uzvaras Park.

The municipality will provide the equipment needed for overnight accommodation, meals and drinking water. Participation is voluntary and free of charge. Families, including children, are also invited to take part.

Residents can register by completing an application form. Each family member must submit a separate form, including each minor participating in the exercise.

The exercise aims to test how Riga’s resident evacuation system would operate in real conditions, from gathering people and transporting them to a safe place to registering, accommodating and providing for their basic needs at an evacuation centre.