KAUNAS, Lithuania — As flooding continues in central Lithuania, emergency services are coming to grips with the scale of the damage.

Around 130 properties, 200 cars and 150 livestock have been damaged or lost in flooding that occurred when ice and snow upstream began to melt suddenly causing a deluge. Ice dams down river exacerbated the problem causing water to rise by up to five meters in some areas along the Neris and Nemunas. Some 70 people were also evacuated from their homes as the water level rose.

A litai value is yet to be given for the amount of damage caused by the spring floods.

The flood is expected to move on from central Lithuania and move towards the Curonian Lagoon before flowing out to sea.

The military has been working to unblock rivers clogged with icebergs and reported that the water level is receeding.

Vilnius too is feeling the effects of the flood losing access to drinking water in the outer suburbs.

This year’s harsh winter and heavy rains at the start of spring caused the flooding in different parts of the country.

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