Storm leaves Ogre, Jēkabpils and other Latvian towns without power and water

On Sunday, several Latvian towns and districts were still feeling the effects of a powerful storm, with Ogre, Jēkabpils, Lielvārde and Ludza district left without electricity, water and mobile network coverage, according to eyewitness accounts given to the news portal Delfi.

In Ogre, traffic lights were not working, including at railway crossings, shop windows were dark, and fuel could not be purchased. Without mobile coverage, residents had no access to the internet, information about public transport changes, or airport updates. For many, the only source of information was battery-powered radio, though public radio was mostly broadcasting regular programming rather than frequent news updates. Fallen trees and wind damage were visible in parts of the city.

Some residents, searching for fuel and communication, drove toward Riga through Ikšķile and Salaspils. In Salaspils they found working mobile coverage and electricity, but fuel remained hard to find there too — a queue formed at a filling station, with some people filling canisters.

Similar situation elsewhere

Similar problems were reported in Lielvārde, which had no water, electricity or mobile coverage. In Jēkabpils on Sunday morning there was also no electricity or water, ATMs and fuel stations were not working, and most shops were closed except small businesses. Some mobile coverage was available in places, but residents queued at a cemetery water tap to get drinking water.

Residents of Ludza district also reported a similar situation — no electricity, no water, poor mobile coverage, and closed shops.

As previously reported, the powerful storm caused some of the most extensive power supply disruptions in Latvia in the past twenty years.