Latvia, Legislation, Real Estate, Transport

The decision was made in order for the State Fire and Rescue Service to be able to evacuate people forcibly. Dombrovskis explained that, if the situation deteriorates, taking into account that many local residents refuse to leave their homes, the Service will be able to evacuate them against their will and thus rescue all concerned.

The government will also convene for an emergency session today to decide on declaring state of emergency in Daugavpils and Daugavpils Region and review compensation for individual persons hit by floods.

Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (Reform Party) pointed out that the water level in the Daugava River will peak during the next few hours.

The Civil Defense Commission of Daugavpils will decide on mandatory evacuation. According to current estimates, several hundred people could be evacuated. At this time it is not necessary, as the water level rises slower than before.

As reported, the water level near Daugavpils has risen to 7.88 meters, exceeding the critical seven-meter mark by almost a meter; a horticultural cooperative society in Mezciems village is threatened by flooding and 23 people living in the area have been offered evacuating.