Historic photos: How Hurricane Ervin devastated Latvia in 2005

Hurricane Ervin, the most powerful and destructive storm in Latvia in the last half-century, struck the country on January 9, 2005. The hurricane devastated forests, flooded ports and city streets, and ripped roofs off homes. Much of the country lost electricity, heating, and telephone service in the early morning hours.

Wind speeds reached 40 meters per second in gusts across the country, with the most severe damage occurring in Kurzeme and coastal areas of the Gulf of Riga. Then-Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis stated that the storm had caused unprecedented damage in Latvia, particularly disrupting communications and power supply, which he warned threatened national security.

In response to the crisis, the Latvian government declared an energy crisis. This event is recalled as the storm caused widespread destruction and significant disruption to essential services. A recent storm on August 23 was noted as the strongest summer storm since 1966, with another significant storm occurring on July 28-29, 2024.

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the storm has caused unprecedented damage in Latvia, particularly disrupting communications and power supply, which already threatens national security.