Short answer. In Lithuania, a pulsating siren for 3 minutes is the "Attention everyone" (Dėmesio visiems) signal: an emergency is coming or under way, or the system is being tested. Turn on LRT radio or TV and follow the instructions 1. Spoken signals then name the threat, and Cell Broadcast messages reach every mobile phone in the area 12.
Who sounds the alarm?
The Fire and Rescue Department sounds national signals on the orders of the National Crisis Management Centre or, for air alerts, the Lithuanian Armed Forces 1. A siren map is published on lt72.lt 1.
What are the official signals?
| Signal | Meaning and what to do |
|---|---|
| Dėmesio visiems (Attention everyone) | Pulsating siren for 3 minutes: an emergency is coming or under way, or the system is being tested or exercised. Turn on LRT radio or TV 1 |
| Oro pavojus (Air alert) | Direct air threat (a drone or unidentified flying object counts) or enemy attack; declared only by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Go to a safe place or shelter and turn on LRT 1 |
| Cheminis pavojus (Chemical hazard) | Chemical contamination 1 |
| Radiacinis pavojus (Radiation hazard) | Radioactive contamination; take stable iodine if instructed 1 |
| Katastrofinis užtvindymas (Catastrophic flooding) | Possible accident at the Kaunas hydroelectric plant 1 |
| Potvynio pavojus (Flood) | Rivers rising to a dangerous level 1 |
| Uragano pavojus (Hurricane) | A dangerous weather event is approaching 1 |
| Perspėjimo sistemos patikrinimas (System test) | The warning system is being tested 1 |
The siren gives the first signal; the spoken civil-protection signals that follow say which threat applies 1.
How do phone alerts work in Lithuania?
Lithuania uses Cell Broadcast: messages reach all phones in the area 2. LT72 gives three checks 2:
- Make sure emergency alerts are switched on in your phone settings.
- On button phones, add channel 578.
- On dual-SIM phones, alerts only work with SIM 1 active.
The Fire and Rescue Department also offers the official LT72 preparedness app on lt72.lt 3.
What should I do when I hear a siren?
Turn on LRT radio or television and follow the instructions 1. For an air alert, go to a safe place or shelter first 1; see public shelters. A battery radio is on the official evacuation-bag list 4: see emergency radio.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 3-minute pulsating siren mean in Lithuania?
"Attention everyone": an emergency is coming or under way, or a test. Turn on LRT for instructions 1.
Who can declare an air alert?
Only the Lithuanian Armed Forces 1.
How do I make sure I receive phone alerts?
Cell Broadcast reaches all phones in the area; check that emergency alerts are switched on, and add channel 578 on button phones 2.
What should I do after a radiation hazard signal?
Follow official instructions; take stable iodine only if instructed 1. See iodine in Lithuania and chemical shelter-in-place.
Sources
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM — Sirenos ir civilinės saugos signalai — https://lt72.lt/civilines-saugos-signalai-kaip-elgtis-juos-isgirdus/ (accessed 2026-10-20; read in a Wayback Machine copy because the official site blocks automated access)
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM — Telefonų nustatymai perspėjimo pranešimams gauti — https://lt72.lt/telefono-nustatymai-aktyvinti-perspejimo-funkcija-telefonuose-kad-gautumete-perspejimo-pranesimus-2/ (accessed 2026-10-20; read in a Wayback Machine copy because the official site blocks automated access)
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM — LT72 - Preparedness for Emergencies in Lithuania / Food stocks — https://lt72.lt/maisto-atsargos/?lang=en (accessed 2026-10-20; read in a Wayback Machine copy because the official site blocks automated access)
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM — Išvykimo krepšys — https://lt72.lt/isvykimo-krepsys-5/ (accessed 2026-10-20; read in a Wayback Machine copy because the official site blocks automated access)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM · Sirenos ir civilinės saugos signalai checked 2026-10-20
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM · Telefonų nustatymai perspėjimo pranešimams gauti checked 2026-10-20
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM · LT72 - Preparedness for Emergencies in Lithuania / Food stocks checked 2026-10-20
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM · Išvykimo krepšys checked 2026-10-20