Lithuania's emergency center logs record calls amid severe storm

Lithuania's emergency services were overwhelmed on Saturday as a severe storm battered the country, leading to a record number of calls to the General Assistance Center (BPC).

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Today, the BPC is operating under the highest load of the year. The call volume increased significantly in the afternoon – in 11.5 hours, we received more than 11,000 calls, although we usually receive about 5,000 per day.

Between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., the BPC handled 11,460 calls, a figure more than double the typical daily volume of around 5,000. The surge in calls intensified in the afternoon as wind speeds increased and storm-related incidents multiplied across the nation.

The majority of the calls concerned the consequences of the storm, but a significant portion also related to power outages. Energy company ESO experienced technical difficulties with its systems due to the storm's scale, prompting many residents to report outages to the BPC via the emergency number 112 when other channels failed.

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We were prepared for the predicted period of dangerous weather and had strengthened our forces in advance, but in addition to numerous reports of storm damage, there was also a very large volume of calls regarding power outages.

In response to the unprecedented call volume, the BPC is operating with enhanced staff capacity. The center is working with ESO to streamline the reporting of power outages and reduce the burden on the 112 lines. Residents are urged to use the emergency number only for situations requiring immediate police, fire, or medical assistance, or when there is a real threat to life, health, safety, or property. Repeated calls are discouraged as they further strain the system.

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Therefore, our most important request to residents at this time is to reserve the number 112 for urgent situations.