Storm aftermath disrupts daily life across Latgale

Storm damage continued to disrupt daily life across Latvia’s Latgale region on Sunday, with thousands of households without electricity and some also lacking water, internet and mobile phone services, LSM reported. Shops were closed in many places, cash machines were not operating and public transport was disrupted.

Services and municipalities continued working to repair the damage while residents adapted to life without their usual services.

Vladimir, a resident of Pilda parish, was less affected because he had bought a generator after the previous storm.

Residents of apartment buildings in parishes of Ludza municipality were left without electricity, internet, mobile services, water and sewage services.

“I brought water because there is no water at home. I also do not know when it will return. I have just come back from my grandmother’s and helped her too,” local resident Sergei said.

All generators belonging to Ludza municipality were put into operation to provide water to apartment buildings in villages for at least a few hours at a time.

Edgars Mekšs, chairman of the Ludza municipality council, said the number of generators was insufficient to connect all facilities simultaneously.

“There is not just one water extraction facility in a parish. We also have treatment plants and pumping stations. If we provide water for a long period, we must also consider these facilities. The process must be short-term so that we do not overload the treatment plants, which are currently simply not operating,” Mekšs said.

Shop No. 3 in Ludza was one of the few shops open on Sunday. Customers could pay only in cash, and the shop assistant issued receipts for purchases.

“Batteries were sold out, candles were sold out, five-litre bottles of water were sold out — everything was sold out,” the shop assistant said.

Most shops in Preiļi had dark windows. Cash machines and pharmacies were also not operating there, while the hospital and care homes were supplied with generators. Traffic lights were not working because of the power outage.

Public transport was also affected. In Daugavpils and Rēzekne, many passengers did not see their trains arrive on Sunday.