Lithuanian official warns of possible evacuation due to unexploded ordnance

The mayor of Klaipeda, Lithuania, Arvydas Vaitkus, has issued a warning that the city may need to evacuate residents due to the ongoing threat posed by unexploded ordnance discovered in the city center.

The munitions, which date back to World War II, were found during the reconstruction of Atgimimo square in October 2024 and are considered highly dangerous, rated as level four out of five in terms of risk, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Despite more than three months having passed since the discovery, the process of demining the area has yet to be completed, raising serious concerns among local authorities.

"The demining issue has not been resolved by the responsible authorities for more than 100 days, despite the area being assigned a fourth-degree danger rating. If this situation continues, the mayor's office is prepared to evacuate residents from the affected zone," Mayor Vaitkus said.

The ongoing situation in Klaipeda has been complicated by the challenges of safely removing the munitions, which pose a significant risk to public safety. Klaipeda, formerly known as Memel, was one of the last cities in Lithuania to be liberated by Soviet troops on January 28, 1945, and the discovery of these unexploded remnants from the war has highlighted the lasting dangers of wartime materials still present in the region.

The city’s authorities continue to urge the responsible agencies to expedite the demining process in order to ensure the safety of residents and avoid the need for evacuation.

By Vafa Guliyeva