Tõrva continues flood repairs nearly month after dams broke

Tõrva municipality is still repairing damage caused by severe flooding nearly a month ago, ERR reported. Local officials said the main crisis has eased, while insurance companies have covered some homeowners’ costs and a road over the Tikste dam is expected to reopen soon.

Several dams in Tõrva broke one after another early on July 9, sending water into gardens and homes. Homeowner Erko Ruukel has spent the past month dealing with the aftermath, with some work still unfinished.

“The water came from three places. It went wherever there was room. It all happened so suddenly and lasted only 45 minutes,” Ruukel said. He added that he had handled the landscaping work himself because it was not covered by insurance. The insurer has agreed to cover most of the costs, and he expects the remaining work to begin within the next few weeks.

Tõrva municipality was prepared to offer residents temporary accommodation, but no one needed it. At least six households suffered more serious damage, according to Tõrva Mayor Kalle Vister. Three have reached agreements with their insurers, while the situation for one household is still unclear.

The repairs to the Tikste dam have also required money from the municipal budget. Deputy Mayor Tarmo Tamm said the company Valmap Grupp had resolved the emergency situation and that the municipality was waiting for metal road-edge structures. The section of the dam will reopen to traffic once they arrive.

The flooding has also raised concerns about the condition of culverts on state roads. Local residents said the culverts were poorly maintained and had not been cleaned, allowing large amounts of debris, including polystyrene foam, to be carried into them.

Vister said municipal workers had saved several state-road culverts on the day of the crisis. According to him, water carried loose debris from the banks into the culverts, causing blockages. The water then opened a path beside the dam, causing several dams to collapse.