Storm disrupts power for thousands of Latvian households

Storm damage in Latvia has included flooded streets, fallen trees and power outages affecting several thousand households, LSM reported on Saturday. No injuries had been reported, but residents were urged to remain cautious as winds were expected to strengthen in the evening, with gusts potentially exceeding 30 metres per second.

Heavy rain during the day brought up to half of the monthly rainfall norm to several parts of central Latvia. The highest total was recorded in Dobele, where 53 millimetres of rain fell.

By 6 p.m., Latvia’s emergency number 112 had received 131 reports linked to damage caused by strong winds. The reports included three in Riga, six in the Riga region, 46 in Kurzeme, 15 in Zemgale, 46 in Latgale and 15 in Vidzeme.

Most of the incidents involved trees falling onto roads. In Daugavpils, a tree fell onto a residential building on Klusā Street. In Viesīte, a town in Jēkabpils municipality, a tree fell onto two cars in the courtyard of an apartment building. In Liepāja, another tree fell onto two passenger cars on Pīlādžu Street.

Firefighters handled most of the calls, while some reports were forwarded to municipalities, volunteer firefighters and Sadales tīkls, the electricity distribution company.

Viktorija Gribuste, a representative of the State Fire and Rescue Service, said residents should contact their building manager if heavy rain caused water to run from a roof through ventilation shafts or in similar situations. Such incidents are not considered a threat to life, and firefighters do not respond to them, she said.

Several roads in Riga were flooded, while authorities also received initial reports of fallen trees and damaged cars struck by branches.

The State Fire and Rescue Service said the public should call 112 only when there is a threat to the surrounding environment, human life or health.