Pärnu continues flood recovery as rescue teams pump out water

Pärnu continued clearing up after Friday’s flooding on Saturday, with the most critical conditions in the coastal district and the Rääma district, ERR reported. Rescue teams continued pumping water from flooded locations into the Pärnu River, according to the city government.

Water levels across Rääma had fallen by about 25 centimetres by morning. The city government said the drop had freed hundreds of households where water had entered homes the previous evening, allowing residents to begin assessing the damage.

However, officials stressed that the danger had not fully passed. Rescue workers arrived from Tallinn, Rapla, Valga, Paide, Tõstamaa and Haapsalu, with assistance also provided by the Rescue Union.

“Pärnu has not seen a rescue operation of this scale for a long time,” crisis committee chief Sander Kilk said. He added that a change of crews in the morning would not interrupt the work, which would continue until all residents had been freed from the floodwater.

Õuna, Männi, Raba and Rääma streets were closed before noon because of pumping operations, and bus routes in the area were diverted. The city government urged motorists to remain especially careful and follow safety rules.

Residents were also told to follow the emergency service’s instructions. If water enters a building, electricity should be switched off immediately. People should stay away from flooded substations, electrical equipment and cables, and move items that could be damaged or pollute the water, including chemicals and fuel, to higher ground.

Heavy rain hit Pärnu on Friday morning, overwhelming the drainage system and flooding streets and roads across the city. Water also entered buildings. Rainfall exceeded 100 millimetres, reaching more than 120 millimetres in some places.