Nine people die during Jāņi holiday weekend in fires, drownings, and road accidents
The past Jāņi holiday period was tragic: in five days, one person died in fires, eight drownings were recorded, and one more person died in a traffic accident. The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) urges caution near water bodies.
From June 20 at 6:30 AM to June 25 at 6:30 AM, the Kurzeme regional VUGD received 53 calls, including 14 for firefighting, 28 for rescue operations, and 11 false alarms. Nationwide, VUGD responded to 339 calls – 100 fires, 133 rescue operations, and 106 false alarms.
Among the fires in Kurzeme were blazes in farm buildings, a sauna, a greenhouse, reeds, an abandoned building, and several cases of unattended cooking on stoves. On Midsummer Eve, an unattended bonfire burned in Liepāja, while waste and brush piles burned in Dunalka parish and Kuldīga. A car crash in Saldus municipality required firefighters to extricate a person and hand them over to medics.
The most tragic aspect was the loss of life: one person died and five were injured in fires, while five were rescued. Eight drowning victims were recovered from water bodies – in Jūrmala, Rēzekne, Cēsis, Saulkrasti, Dobele, Smiltene, Valmiera, and Daugavpils municipalities or cities. On Sunday, a call about a possible drowning in Riga was received, but the victim was not found. In road accidents, one injured and one deceased person were freed from vehicles using hydraulic tools.
VUGD reminds that water is still cold; swimming under the influence of alcohol, in unfamiliar places, or alone is especially dangerous. People are advised to choose safe swimming spots, not overestimate their abilities, and always supervise children. When boating, kayaking, or using water scooters and SUP boards, life jackets must be worn; for children under 12, it is mandatory.
