Over 160,000 lose power as Latvia hit by powerful storm

Latvia faced a powerful storm on Saturday evening, resulting in widespread power outages and extensive damage to infrastructure. The storm, entering the country from the south, brought torrential rain and damaging winds. The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre maintained a red warning for heavy rainfall in central and western Latvia, while an orange warning for strong winds covered almost the entire nation.

As of 9 pm, around 160,000 customers were without power, with most damage caused by fallen trees. Emergency crews worked to restore electricity, but extensive and complex damage to the network meant repairs would take longer than usual. Some residents may be without power for over 24 hours. Strong winds also caused significant damage, including a collapsed roof in Daugavpils and a residential building damaged by a fallen tree.

In Jekabpils, vehicles were crushed by downed trees. Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service reported a surge in weather-related emergency calls, mostly due to blocked roads and uprooted trees. Numerous outdoor events were canceled in response to the warnings, and local authorities repeatedly used cell broadcast alerts to warn residents of the impending severe weather.