22-04-2013

State of Emergency has been declared in Daugavpils and Daugavpils county

Government today held an extraordinary meeting on the situation inLatvia’s municipalities which are affected by floods. The chairperson ofDaugavpilscity council Žanna Kulakova also participated in the meeting and informed that a decision about declaring of emergency state inDaugavpilsandDaugavpilscounty has been taken.

Such a decision has been taken so that when the situation will become aggravated, the responsible authorities could arrange forced evacuation of the population in case if it is needed. This also will give a possibility for authorities to make the decisions on the site without coordination. The work is coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior. Žanna Kulakova expressed her appreciation of the government’s understanding of the situation - operational headquarters is set inDaugavpilstoday, boats and generators are received and a helicopter is on duty. Žanna Kulakova emphasized that such a help gives a sense of security to people ofDaugavpils.  

Žanna Kulakova asks mass media not to exacerbate the situation. She also asks the people not to panic and act with understanding because as experience demonstrates inDaugavpilscounty - people do not understand the threats that are posed by a natural disaster. In such extreme situations it is not about days and hours, it is about minutes, so the emergency services will take decisions very responsibly.

Žanna Kulakova hopes that these measures will be not needed.

Situation inDaugavpilsis under control, specialists are constantly on duty, and all emergency services are completely ready to respond to emergency situations.

The information has been prepared by press secretary ofDaugavpilscity council Līga Korsaka