Latvia was hit by the strongest storm since 1966 on the night of 22-23 August 2026, LSM reported. Wind speeds exceeded 30 mps in some areas, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVGMC), LETA reported. Several injuries and one fatality were recorded. Electricity distributor Sadales Tikls reported that the storm cut power in around 277,000 households. The power cuts disrupted telecommunications, petrol stations, shops, and ATMs, Baltic News Network, LETA, and LSM reported. Fallen trees blocked roads, streets, and parks, and disrupted bus and train services across the country, LSM reported. The storm damaged border infrastructure in many places, according to the State Border Guard (VRS), LSM reported. The volume of forest damage could exceed 100,000 m3 and may take four months to clear, according to state forest management company Latvijas Valsts Mezi, LETA reported. Latvia may have to seek EU aid to cover the storm costs, Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Edgars Tavars said, LETA reported. Speaking in an interview with Latvijas Radio, he said that several tens of millions of euros could be needed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs stated that the storm showed that Latvia’s state services were not properly coordinated with one another, LETA reported. At the same time, President Edgars Rinkevics pointed out that official instructions often cannot be followed in crisis situations, so residents and organisations have to show initiative and use common sense, LETA reported. Martins Baltmanis, head of the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), urged residents and organisations to consider their preparedness and resilience, LETA reported. Arvis Zile, director of Latvia’s Crisis Management Centre, said that some members of the public could have been better prepared, LSM reported. Speaking to Latvijas Radio, he reminded of the need for residents to be able to survive for 72 hours without external assistance in emergency situations. Also, he noted that some local authorities had failed to provide information about the storm on their websites. The head of Latvijas Radio’s news service, Ugis Libietis, resigned due to failures in informing listeners about the storm, LSM reported.