Talsi Municipality Considers Declaring State of Emergency After Devastating Rains

The Talsi Municipality is weighing the possibility of asking the government to declare a state of emergency as flood damage continues to mount. Council chairman Ansis Bērziņš announced the consideration on Thursday, July 23.

Bērziņš explained that a state of emergency would allow the municipality to carry out road repairs more quickly, bypassing lengthy procurement procedures. The municipality is currently preparing documents for the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development to seek compensation from contingency funds.

Staff are continuing to assess damaged sites. Since Tuesday, water levels have risen in the lower reaches of the Dursupe River near Lake Engure. Bērziņš warned that the extent of damage could increase in the coming days.

Due to the floods, two municipal road sections in Ģibuļi and Valdgale parishes—Gambija-Poļi-Mežmuiža and Ozoli-Kukuri—have been closed.

Earlier, Saeima's State Administration and Municipal Committee chairman Oļegs Burovs called an emergency meeting for Thursday, July 23, at 1:30 PM. Participants include representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, the Ministry of Finance, Latvian State Roads, and the Talsi municipal leadership.

On Monday, July 20, the Talsi area received over 74 mm of rainfall, nearly a month's norm. The downpour caused the Dursupe mill pond dam to burst, flooding surrounding areas and washing out several roads, including the regional road Jūrmala-Talsi. Public buildings in Talsi and Pastende were also flooded.

On Tuesday night, one person and a dog were evacuated from Ķūļciems parish. In the Lauciene administrative union (covering Lauciene, Mērsrags, Balgale, and Ķūļciems parishes), at least 20 road sections were damaged, requiring an estimated €200,000 for repairs.