Virtsu lighthouse demolished by Transport Administration and Kaitseliit

The Estonian Transport Administration, in cooperation with the Kaitseliit Western County Defence District pioneers, is demolishing the Virtsu lighthouse on Friday afternoon. The event is being livestreamed on the ERR portal starting at noon.

The Estonian Transport Administration is carrying out the controlled demolition of the Virtsu lighthouse on Friday, working together with the pioneers of the Kaitseliit Western County Defence District. The operation began at noon and is being broadcast live on the ERR news portal.

Virtsu is a small coastal settlement in western Estonia, known primarily as a ferry terminal connecting the mainland to the islands of Muhu and Saaremaa. The lighthouse, no longer in active use, has been slated for removal as part of ongoing updates to Estonia's maritime navigation infrastructure.

The involvement of the Kaitseliit's pioneer units — who specialize in engineering and demolition tasks — reflects the close cooperation between civilian government agencies and Estonia's volunteer defence organization. Such joint operations provide practical training opportunities for Kaitseliit members while supporting public infrastructure projects.