Vilnius city officials released Thursday a comprehensive emergency evacuation plan aimed at directing residents out of the Lithuanian capital in the event of a 'military threat, nuclear accident or other major emergency,' according to Lithuanian National Radio and Television.
The plan establishes three primary evacuation corridors: northward to Panevezys and Siauliai, westward to Klaipeda and Kaunas, and southward to Alytus and the Polish border.
City officials concede that 'some roads could become heavily congested' during such events, despite route diversification.
Residents would be alerted to evacuate via sirens or emergency SMS messages, and are advised to prepare 'pre-packed emergency bags' in advance. Evacuees will have the option of using personal vehicles or city-organised transportation, which will depart from 'two to three schools or kindergartens per district across Vilnius.'
'People need to make this decision now, not when it's time to leave their homes,' said Vilnius City Council member and defence expert Aurimas Navys.
'You have to ask yourself: will I need assistance, will I go on my own, or even on foot, if that's your thing,' Navys said.
Despite the detailed planning, logistical challenges persist. Critics argue that the plan is impractical under real-world conditions.
Former Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas described the strategy as 'an insult to common sense.'
While acknowledging that residents might know where to go, he questioned whether they would ever be able to get there. 'The roads were never designed or planned for this. In a nuclear incident or military threat, people would have to flee through the fields.'
Current Mayor Valdas Benkunskas defended the initiative but admitted shortcomings. He identified five critical road segments in need of upgrades to avoid paralysis and warned that some improvements 'could take years.'
He also blamed the national government for 'inadequate support.' According to Benkunskas, a full evacuation of Vilnius would take 'two to three days.'
The plan marks Lithuania's most detailed civil contingency strategy to date, reflecting heightened regional security concerns amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr