Rescuers urge people to stay home after storm

Latvia’s State Fire and Rescue Service has urged people to remain at home and avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday, as widespread storm damage continues to obstruct roads and threaten public safety, LSM reported.

Rescuers also asked people not to visit or photograph areas affected by the storm. Fallen trees and branches remain on roads across Latvia, with some routes difficult or impossible to use. Firefighters, municipal services and other emergency teams are continuing cleanup operations.

In some places, trees have fallen at intervals of just a few dozen metres. This is hindering both traffic and emergency response, as rescuers must first clear roads before reaching people who need help.

“Do not go to view or photograph the storm damage. Even where the wind has subsided, the danger has not passed. Trees may have broken branches or damaged trunks that could suddenly fall and threaten people’s health and lives,” the service said.

The service also warned people to stay away from leaning or partially uprooted trees, broken branches, damaged power lines and downed wires.

More than 1,876 reports of wind damage had been received through the emergency number 112 since the storm began, and recovery work was continuing.

Storm caused deaths and power outages

On Saturday, a cyclone reached the Baltic states from the south, bringing storms more commonly associated with autumn. A red warning was in force in central and western Latvia, while orange and yellow warnings were issued elsewhere in the country.

Latvia’s State Fire and Rescue Service reported that one person died in Jelgava after a building structure collapsed. A firefighter was injured while dealing with storm damage in Bauska Municipality and was taken for medical treatment. In Aizkraukle Municipality’s Aiviekste Parish, a person was struck by a falling tree.

More than 250,000 people lost access to electricity because of the storm. Many residents were told by the responsible services that restoring power could take more than 24 hours. Electricity supplies to around 277,000 households were disrupted.

The cyclone’s path and characteristics were similar to those of the strong storm Kirstija, which hit Latvia on July 29 and 30, 2024.