Kurmenes residents rely on one another after storm damage

Residents of Kurmene, a small village in Bauska municipality near the Lithuanian border, have been without electricity and communications for more than three days after a severe storm, LSM reported. Water service was restored on Tuesday morning, while neighbours have been helping one another with other necessities.

Heaps of fallen trees line the road into Kurmene. Local residents are sawing up branches and gradually clearing the storm damage. The local shop has reopened, but its interior remains dark. A generator powers only two freezers and a refrigerator, and customers can pay only in cash.

Local resident Juris told Latvian Television that Kurmene had never experienced storm damage on such a scale. Residents quickly organised themselves to clear at least the main roads.

“People here live in the countryside. They helped one another, and everything got done,” Juris said.

Residents have been without electricity and mobile communications on the Latvian side for a third day. Homes have no lighting or means to charge phones, while food in refrigerators is gradually beginning to spoil.

One neighbour brought a generator to the village and connected it to several flats so residents could at least prepare food. “Everyone who has something to save has connected to it, but if anyone needs anything else, they can come,” Juris said. The generator was due to operate there until 5 p.m. before being moved elsewhere to help other residents.

Residents do not remember a storm this powerful in the village, and significant work remains to repair the damage.