Storm devastates Lithuania: one dead, four injured

Lithuania is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating storm that swept through the country over the weekend, claiming one life and injuring four people. Emergency services have characterized the event as the most destructive storm to hit Lithuania in the past two decades.

The storm's fury led to numerous incidents involving fallen trees. In the Anykščiai district, a man died after a tree collapsed in his yard, pushing him into a nearby pond. Firefighters and rescuers recovered the victim, but medical professionals confirmed his death. Four other individuals sustained injuries in separate incidents related to falling trees. In Kaunas, a woman was hit by a tree in a park, while in Kėdainiai, a car carrying two people was crushed by a fallen tree. Another man was injured while cycling when he hit a downed tree.

Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries overnight while extinguishing a fire caused by the storm in the Jonava district. They were struck by a passing car while clearing fallen trees from the road. Despite their injuries, the firefighters were able to continue their duties.

By Sunday morning, the Fire and Rescue Department had responded to over 1,200 calls concerning storm damage nationwide. The peak of the power outages occurred Saturday evening, leaving approximately 268,000 customers without electricity. By Sunday morning, around 219,000 customers remained without power, highlighting the extensive damage to the electrical grid. Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 33 m/s in coastal areas like Ventes Ragas and Nida, with hurricane-force winds reported in some locations.