RIGA, May 20 (LETA) - President Edgars Rinkevics and Rezekne Mayor Janis Tutins (Together for Latvia/Latvia First), during a meeting at Riga Castle on Wednesday, agreed on the need to provide for different models of action in cell broadcast notifications depending on the potential threat, Tutins told LETA.

The president's spokesman Martins Dregeris informed that during the meeting the parties discussed the current situation in Rezekne in relation to the air alerts issued in Latvian airspace in recent days and the involvement and actions of the local government in civil protection measures, including notification of the population and promotion of preparedness in emergencies.

"The main topics of discussion were the perspective on security issues, drone flights, and the situation in Rezekne and Latgale. Regarding cell broadcasts, we talked about how they do not always work well and people do not always get the warning and the recall. The president promised to provide clarity on this," said Tutins.

The possibility of dividing the orange-level alert into two types depending on the warning was also discussed. Tutins explained that currently, the orange alert means a two-wall principle and, for example, schools and kindergartens halt classes and students are taken to corridors or other safer rooms without windows.

"The president promised to promote the idea that the orange alert should be divided into two types. The first level would be when there is no certainty about a drone, there is a potential threat and you do not have to look for a safe place, but need to watch out and listen, to see if something is flying over. The second type would be when there is complete certainty that a drone is over Latvia, and then there would be a warning prompting specific action," the Rezekne mayor said.

The officials also discussed the right of local authorities to take immediate decisions autonomously in emergency and crisis situations, if there is a threat, for example, to local residents, state and municipal educational institutions, or municipal companies.

The two officials agreed that the guidelines for action should come from the central government, but that action protocols and plans should be developed by local authorities.

As reported, on Tuesday and Wednesday, residents in several regions of Latgale received mobile alerts about possible airspace threats. On Tuesday, a number of municipalities in Vidzeme also received such warnings.