Storm damages 150,000 cubic metres of timber in Lithuanian state forests

A weekend storm damaged about 150,000 solid cubic metres of timber in Lithuania’s state forests, LRT reported Monday, citing the State Forest Enterprise.

The greatest damage was recorded in the Dubrava, Kazlų Rūda, Biržai and Panevėžys regional divisions.

Preliminary assessments found about 17,000 cubic metres of damaged timber in extensively affected stands covering approximately 80 hectares. The volume of individual trees uprooted or broken by the storm exceeded 130,000 cubic metres.

The Dubrava regional division recorded the largest amount of damaged timber, at 19,100 cubic metres, followed by Kazlų Rūda with 17,900 cubic metres, Biržai with 16,800 cubic metres and Panevėžys with 9,000 cubic metres.

The State Forest Enterprise said the damage caused by Saturday’s storm was already twice the amount of wind-damaged timber recorded throughout 2025.

Coniferous trees account for more than 70,000 cubic metres of the damaged timber. Forestry specialists are therefore prioritising the removal of uprooted and broken spruce trees from the forests.

Damaged and weakened spruces create favourable conditions for the reproduction and spread of one of the most dangerous pests affecting spruce stands, the spruce bark beetle. Removing the trees quickly helps reduce the risk of the pest reproducing and spreading and protects nearby healthy spruce stands.

Workers have begun assessing the damage, removing the most dangerous consequences of the storm and clearing forest roads and access routes blocked by fallen trees.

The State Forest Enterprise asked residents and forest visitors to be patient, warning that travel may still be difficult in some places and that removing all the storm damage could take time.

The enterprise is coordinating its work with the Fire and Rescue Department and municipalities. The figures are preliminary and may change after a more detailed assessment.

By Monday afternoon, about 108,600 consumers were still without electricity, according to the report.