Cyclone conditions have left two people dead and around half a million without electricity across Latvia and Lithuania after powerful winds and heavy rain swept through the Baltic region from Saturday into Sunday.
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center official Andris Viksna described the storm as one of the country’s most severe since 2005 in terms of its overall impact.
In central Latvia, one person died in Jelgava after part of a building collapsed on Saturday. Several other people suffered injuries across the country. Winds in Riga exceeded 67 mph, while some weather stations recorded rainfall equivalent to half the average monthly total in a single day.
More than 250,000 people lost electricity in Latvia, while the storm also disrupted mobile phone services.
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Transport disrupted across the Baltics
Fallen trees and debris damaged transport infrastructure, affecting rail and other public transport services.
Riga airport warned on Sunday morning that severe weather could cause flight delays and rerouting. Meanwhile, Estonia also experienced strong winds, particularly across its western and northern regions and islands.
Ferry services to several Estonian islands were disrupted, while trains arriving from Latvia and Lithuania faced delays because of storm-related problems.
Lithuania reports death and widespread power cuts
In neighbouring Lithuania, a falling tree killed one person and injured others. More than 200,000 residents remained without electricity on Sunday morning.
The storm therefore affected more than half a million people across Latvia and Lithuania, while damage to infrastructure added to disruption throughout the region.
Climate impact remains unclear
Viksna said it was too early to determine precisely how climate change contributed to the storm. However, he noted that human-caused climate change may have intensified the rainfall associated with the cyclone.
Weather conditions were expected to improve during Sunday, with the situation forecast to stabilise further by Monday.
