Latvia & nearby (169)

Over 9,000 residents in Bauska municipality still without electricity

More than 9,000 residents of Bauska municipality remain without electricity, and water supply has not been restored in part of the area, while waste collection continues to operate normally.

Apollo.lv · 24 Aug, 11:38

Kulbergs: crisis information must be unified and constantly updated

Prime Minister Kulbergs says last weekend's storm exposed the lack of a single, regularly updated information source during crises, and has asked the Crisis Management Centre for a full review.

Delfi · 24 Aug, 11:38

Cēsis municipality to allocate around €20,000 for storm damage repairs

The Cēsis municipality plans to spend roughly €20,000 to address damage caused by a recent storm in Cēsis and Vaive. This was announced by Aleksandrs Abramovs, head of the municipality's Communication and Client Service Department.

TVNET · 24 Aug, 11:37

Estonia: fewer rental apartments, higher prices as new school year nears

As Estonia's new academic year approaches, the number of apartments available for rent has dropped by nearly 10 percent while prices have climbed. Students are increasingly turning to dormitories as a cheaper alternative.

ERR News · 24 Aug, 11:37

Storm damage at "Olimpia" mall parking lot echoes an incident from 18 years ago

After the weekend storm, insulation material fell from the ceiling of the "Olimpia" shopping centre's parking area, and a video of the damage spread on social media. A commenter noted that a similar scene was captured at the same spot back in 2008.

Latvijas Avīze · 24 Aug, 11:36

Estonia expects around 800 basic school graduates to skip further education

Estonia's education ministry forecasts that, as in previous years, roughly 800 basic school graduates will not continue their studies, though exact figures won't be known until mid-September.

ERR (rus) · 24 Aug, 11:36

Estonia's SDE closes in on Center Party as presidential vote shapes ratings

August polling in Estonia shows Isamaa firmly leading the party ratings while the Social Democrats (SDE) have surged closer to the falling Center Party, a shift pollster Emor links to the ongoing presidential election process.

ERR News · 24 Aug, 10:40

Jēkabpils Regional Hospital resumes full operations after storm damage repairs

Jēkabpils Regional Hospital has fully resumed operations after storm-related damage was repaired, the Jēkabpils municipality reported.

TVNET · 24 Aug, 10:38

Estonian President Alar Karis Travels to Ukraine for Independence Day

Estonian President Alar Karis and his wife Sirje Karis arrived in Ukraine to mark Independence Day and show Estonia's support for the Ukrainian people. During the visit he is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

ERR (rus) · 24 Aug, 10:38

Rinkēvičs after storm: instructions alone are not enough in a crisis

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said that during crises people need initiative and common sense rather than relying solely on instructions, criticizing gaps in generator readiness at key facilities after the recent storm.

BNN · 24 Aug, 09:42

Rinkēvičs: In a crisis, instructions often can't be followed — initiative is needed

President Edgars Rinkēvičs said after Latvia's destructive storm that common sense and personal initiative matter more than trying to regulate every crisis scenario with instructions. He praised emergency services and volunteers for their storm response.

Latvijas Avīze · 24 Aug, 09:40

Riga region municipalities still clearing storm damage

Municipalities near Riga, including Mārupe and Ropaži, are continuing to clear damage from the weekend's severe storm, with some residents still without power and receiving water deliveries by tanker.

Jauns.lv · 24 Aug, 09:38

Study: Estonia must rent out at least 300 prison places to make Sweden deal viable

A PwC analysis commissioned by Estonia's Ministry of Justice found that renting prison places to Sweden only becomes economically reasonable at a volume of at least 300 places, a threshold that must be locked into the agreement regardless of how many prisoners Sweden actually sends.

ERR News · 24 Aug, 09:37

Crisis Management Centre head: Residents could have prepared better for storm aftermath

The head of Latvia's Crisis Management Centre, Arvis Zīle, says some residents could have better prepared for the consequences of a recent storm that caused power outages, adding that the state and municipalities must also draw lessons.

LSM (rus) · 24 Aug, 09:35

Riga opens collection point for storm-felled trees and branches

From Sunday morning, Riga residents can drop off trees and branches broken by the storm at a collection site on Uzvaras Boulevard. City services remain on heightened alert as cleanup continues.

Latvijas Avīze · 24 Aug, 08:44

Bauska municipality continues cemetery digitalization, but some sites still await their turn

Bauska municipality is preparing a new project application to digitalize cemeteries in line with Latvia's new Cemetery Law, though 27 cemeteries in the Vecumnieki area remain undigitalized. Experience from Iecava's Sils cemetery shows both the benefits and practical challenges of the process.

Bauskas Dzīve · 24 Aug, 08:44

Crisis Management Centre head: residents were not ready for 72-hour storm self-sufficiency

Kaspars Zīle, head of the Crisis Management Centre, told Latvian Radio that many residents lacked adequate preparedness to cope with storm aftermath during the first 72 hours, while also acknowledging shortcomings on the part of state and municipal institutions.

Apollo.lv · 24 Aug, 08:43

Small parish in eastern Latvia fights to preserve Latgalian traditions amid depopulation

In Ludza municipality's Salnova parish near the Russian border, cultural organizer Valentina Kirsanova has led local cultural life for over four decades, battling declining population, transport shortages and administrative centralization to keep ten amateur art collectives alive.

LaKuga · 24 Aug, 08:43

Kuldīga district hosts Home Café Days with 11 hosts

On August 15–16, 11 home café owners across the Kuldīga municipality opened their doors to visitors, including two popular spots in Ēdole parish. Guests enjoyed dishes made from local produce and got to meet the hosts.

Kurzemnieks · 24 Aug, 08:42

Storm damage may take several days to fully repair as parts of Latvia remain without power

Most customers affected by Saturday's severe summer storm have had their electricity restored, but forested areas may face several more days without power. Around 200 local crews and seven crews from Estonia are working on repairs.

OgreNet · 24 Aug, 08:41

New principal takes over at Palsa Primary School in Smiltene municipality

Since August 24, Ilze Vikmane, formerly the school's deputy head for educational work, has led Palsa Primary School in Smiltene municipality. Her biggest challenge will be overseeing the school's relocation from Palsmane to Variņi.

Ziemeļlatvija · 24 Aug, 08:40

ZZS proposes 48-hour deadline for deciding on deportation of illegal immigrants

Lawmakers from the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) have submitted amendments to Latvia's Immigration Law that would require a decision on forcibly deporting foreigners staying in the country illegally to be made within 48 hours. The proposal aims to speed up the decision-making process in such cases.

TVNET · 24 Aug, 08:40

Storm devastates Lithuania: one dead, four injured

A powerful storm hit Lithuania on Saturday, killing one person and injuring four others, while hundreds of thousands were left without electricity.

Delfi · 24 Aug, 08:39

Minister Tavars: Storm exposed serious gaps in companies' power outage readiness

Latvia's smart administration and regional development minister Edgars Tavars says the recent storm revealed serious shortcomings in how prepared companies, especially mobile operators, are for prolonged power outages. He warned that similar disruptions in winter could cause a real disaster.

Jauns.lv · 24 Aug, 08:37

Public vote to decide most valuable building in Valka and Smiltene areas

Organisers of the “Building of the Year in Latvia 2025” contest are inviting residents to vote for the construction project that brings the greatest benefit to society, with two entries from the Valka area and one from Smiltene in the running. Voting runs until 7 September.

Ziemeļlatvija · 24 Aug, 07:44

About 87,000 households still without power after storm; drones to speed up damage inspection

Days after a powerful storm hit Latvia, around 87,000 households remain without electricity, though repairs are progressing rapidly. Grid operators are now deploying drones to locate damage faster.

Delfi · 24 Aug, 07:41

Fallen trees from storm still disrupting traffic on Latvian roads

Days after the August 22 storm, broken and fallen trees remain along roads across Latvia, causing traffic disruptions and even full blockages in places. Public transport in Riga has also been affected.

Latvijas Avīze · 24 Aug, 07:39

Latvia's Week Begins with Brief Rain After Weekend's Severe Storm

Monday brings a mix of sun and clouds across Latvia with brief rain expected in many areas and temperatures rising to +16–20°C, following a powerful weekend storm that left around 277,000 households without power.

Jauns.lv · 24 Aug, 07:38

Estonia: Social Democrats close gap on Centre Party in poll ratings

An Emor survey shows Estonia's Social Democratic Party rising to 18% support in August, closing in on the Centre Party, whose backing among ethnic Estonians has been falling. Isamaa remains the clear leader with 26%.

ERR (rus) · 24 Aug, 07:38

Rogovka to mark fifth anniversary of Latgalian poetry slam in September

On September 12, the Latgalian poetry slam “Rogovkys dzejis voga” will take place for the fifth time in Rogovka, Rēzekne municipality, featuring a premiere by the band “Kei-Rei” and other musical guests. Applications to compete are open until August 30.

LaKuga · 24 Aug, 07:37

Storm's impact on crops will become clear in about a week, farmers say

Farmers' association “Zemnieku saeima” head Juris Lazdiņš says the full effect of the weekend storm and heavy rain on fields will only be assessed in about a week, while the wet weather may boost fusarium spread in cereal crops.

Bauskas Dzīve · 24 Aug, 07:37

About 87,000 customers in Latvia still without electricity after storm

By Monday morning, power had been restored to roughly 190,000 customers in Latvia, but around 87,000 remain without electricity. The data comes from grid operator Sadales tīkls.

LSM (rus) · 24 Aug, 07:35

Is Latvia's attitude toward drought starting to change?

Drought has long been seen in Latvia as a minor, temporary problem rather than a serious risk, but experience in recent years suggests this perception is shifting.

TVNET · 24 Aug, 06:41

Are parents entitled to a day off on September 1 if their extra leave is already used up?

Latvia's State Labour Inspectorate explains that the law does not guarantee parents paid leave on the first day of school, though several alternative options exist.

Latvijas Avīze · 24 Aug, 06:38