Threat of river floods to remain high until spring

RIGA - The threat of river floods in Latvia will remain high until the spring, participants in an inter-institutional meeting to coordinate flood prevention measures agreed today.

Andris Viksna from the Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center said at the meeting that the situation in River Daugava near Plavinas and Jekabpils could get worse.

According to the current forecast for the next few days, it will be relatively warm and rainy, which will be followed by a period of colder weather when ice floes will continue to float down rivers, forming congestions.

Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Maris Sprindzuks (United List) said that, judging by the situation in Jekabpils, it is clear that the threat of floods remains high and the spring will be complicated. Currently, the number of flooded houses is not large.

According to the minister, no extraordinary measures should be taken at this time by regulating the water level in rivers with the help of hydroelectric power plants.

Investments made so far in hydrotechnical and other structures and strengthening river banks have paid off and therefore the threat of floods is smaller than it could have been without these preventive measures, said Sprindzuks.