Strong winds batter Latvia, trigger widespread damage, power outages-Xinhua

A powerful cyclone swept across Latvia over the weekend, bringing strong winds and causing widespread damage and power outages, authorities said Sunday.

Storm Damage and Power Outages in Latvia

Gale-force winds battered coastal areas and central parts of the Baltic country, toppling trees, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting electricity supply. Repair work on wind-related power outages was still ongoing as of Sunday afternoon.

Residents shared photos on social media Sunday morning showing fallen Christmas trees, toppled road signs, and broken trees.

By 4:00 p.m. Sunday, the State Fire and Rescue Service had received 335 calls for assistance related to storm damage. Spokeswoman Victoria Gribste told local media that most calls concerned trees felled by strong winds, while some locations reported damage to roof structures and coverings.

Sadales Tikls, Latvia’s electricity distribution network operator, reported that approximately 1,200 customers were without power as of 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Earlier in the day, around 7,000 households experienced outages, primarily in coastal regions and central Latvia. The most severe disruptions were reported in Marupes, Sigulda and Gulbenes counties.

The Latvian Centre for Environment, Geology and Meteorology issued an orange warning for strong winds on Saturday, effective from 11:00 a.m. Saturday to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. The strongest wind gusts were recorded overnight in coastal areas, reaching 28.4 meters per second at the port of Liepaja.