A total of 61 on-the-job deaths were registered over the first quarter of 2008. Every third accident occurred due to a breach in work safety rules, while majority of cases were related to stevedoring and construction. A state labor inspector in Klaipeda stated that drunkeness was a frequent cause of accidents: every third victim was under the influence at the time of the fatal accident. "Workers are just too careless," the inspector said. "All they think about is how much they can earn. Often they don't care about their own health."
A rainstorm on the night of April 12 flooded many parts of Vilnius. Reports indicated that in several cases police cruisers could not respond to emergency calls due to the high water levels. Dozens of basements were flooded, and static electricity affected TV broadcasting and blocked off cell phones. The Vilnius City Council admitted that flooding is a frequent occurrence in the city during heavy rains since the municipal sewer system is outdated.
Vilnius' energy utility, Vilniaus Energija, petitioned the city and state tariff regulator for a 56 percent increase in energy tariffs this summer. If the request is approved, the base tariff will be increased to 0.2275 litas per kilowatt from the present level of 0.1456 litas. The main reason for pending hike is rising natural gas prices, the company said. The recent 37 percent jump in natural gas prices put Vilniaus Energija in dire straits. "The proposed price structure reflects our true costs, as well as losses already incurred," said commercial director Rimantas Germanas.
