Lithuania unprepared for extreme situations: report

The Lithuanian authorities lack readiness for extreme situations, showed a report by the country's top audit authority published on Monday.

The country's national audit office has announced that the majority of state institutions in charge of civil protection and response to emergency situations haven't tested their readiness to react to actual threats.

"More than one third of state institutions have not organized civil protection drill on the institutional level for three consecutive years," said the audit office in its report.

The top audit body has also found out that over two thirds of the institutions in charge of responding to emergencies do not have shelters. Auditors highlighted that the country's operation center of extreme situations still doesn't have its main shelter installed, while the back-up shelter doesn't meet requirements.

"This raises threat that in case of extreme situation, for example chemical accident, the safety of personnel in charge of liquidation of the accident may not be ensured," said the office.

The auditors also accused the state institutions for lack of planning.

The number of accidents that could lead to extreme situations has been increasing in Lithuania, emphasized the national audit office, referring to accidents such as fire, rainfall or explosion.

"The number of extreme situations could increase due to changed geopolitical situation as well," claimed the office. Endit