TALLINN — As the spring thaw moves north in the Baltic states, so is the flooding after this winter’s record snowfall. Widespread floods hit Estonia over the Easter weekend, with the greatest threat in the country’s second-largest city Tartu.

The water is up over the riverbanks of the Emajõgi River in Tartu and the municipal government has closed the Oa Street dam and piled up hundreds of sandbags to block the riverwater from breaching Supilinn buildings. While there has been no serious structural damage, authorities are wary that the waters may [private_supervisor]continue to rise.

Rein Haak, director of city economy department of Tartu municipal government said that the river is expected to rise for another couple of days, although exactly how much cannot be determined.

“It may happen that some people need to be evacuated or helped,” Haak told Baltic Reports. “We also have an agreement with the rescue board.”

Olga Kovalenko, a hydrologist at the Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said that in southern Estonia the water level should not increase much, but in the north it is and shall continue to.

“The water levels in rivers such as Kasari, Keila, Jägala, Vanaküla, and Vihterpalu in northern Estonia will rise,” Kovalenko told Baltic Reports.

The Estonian Road Administration has closed several roads in Pärnu, Viljandi, Jõgeva and Ida-Viru county.

Marek Simulman, press spokesman of Estonian Rescue Board told Baltic Reports that rescue teams have been sent out over 10 times to pump water from basements.

“Rescue teams will go and help to pump out the water in municipal buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc. In case of homes, we help to pump out the water if the water is threatening peoples’ safety,” said Simulman.

Closer to Tallinn, the Kopli village in the Rae municipality is still under water from 30-50 cm deep, surrounding the houses and covering the roads.

Veigo Gutmann, Rae municipality mayor said that there’s a lot of water but people are working on it.

“The switchboards of the village’s pumping station are underwater but hopefully we will get  the water moving today or tomorrow,” Gutmann told Baltic Reports.

Gutmann said all the ditches are filled with water and the water has escaped the river by about 200 m. He did not know whether it is the peak of the high waters but guessed that the worst is yet to come.

Gutmann said that the high water is in the lowest part of the village which now acts as a bottleneck, “if that wouldn’t exist then there would not be any problems.”

Although such amounts of snow has rather stayed far into the past, it is still not only a consequence of melting water.

“The flood is a result of many factors, one is undone work by the real estate developers during the boom time,” said Gutmann. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]continue to rise.

Rein Haak, director of city economy department of Tartu municipal government said that the river is expected to rise for another couple of days, although exactly how much cannot be determined.

“It may happen that some people need to be evacuated or helped,” Haak told Baltic Reports. “We also have an agreement with the rescue board.”

Olga Kovalenko, a hydrologist at the Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said that in southern Estonia the water level should not increase much, but in the north it is and shall continue to.

“The water levels in rivers such as Kasari, Keila, Jägala, Vanaküla, and Vihterpalu in northern Estonia will rise,” Kovalenko told Baltic Reports.

The Estonian Road Administration has closed several roads in Pärnu, Viljandi, Jõgeva and Ida-Viru county.

Marek Simulman, press spokesman of Estonian Rescue Board told Baltic Reports that rescue teams have been sent out over 10 times to pump water from basements.

“Rescue teams will go and help to pump out the water in municipal buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc. In case of homes, we help to pump out the water if the water is threatening peoples’ safety,” said Simulman.

Closer to Tallinn, the Kopli village in the Rae municipality is still under water from 30-50 cm deep, surrounding the houses and covering the roads.

Veigo Gutmann, Rae municipality mayor said that there’s a lot of water but people are working on it.

“The switchboards of the village’s pumping station are underwater but hopefully we will get the water moving today or tomorrow,” Gutmann told Baltic Reports.

Gutmann said all the ditches are filled with water and the water has escaped the river by about 200 m. He did not know whether it is the peak of the high waters but guessed that the worst is yet to come.

Gutmann said that the high water is in the lowest part of the village which now acts as a bottleneck, “if that wouldn’t exist then there would not be any problems.”

Although such amounts of snow has rather stayed far into the past, it is still not only a consequence of melting water.

“The flood is a result of many factors, one is undone work by the real estate developers during the boom time,” said Gutmann. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]continue to rise.

Rein Haak, director of city economy department of Tartu municipal government said that the river is expected to rise for another couple of days, although exactly how much cannot be determined.

“It may happen that some people need to be evacuated or helped,” Haak told Baltic Reports. “We also have an agreement with the rescue board.”

Olga Kovalenko, a hydrologist at the Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said that in southern Estonia the water level should not increase much, but in the north it is and shall continue to.

“The water levels in rivers such as Kasari, Keila, Jägala, Vanaküla, and Vihterpalu in northern Estonia will rise,” Kovalenko told Baltic Reports.

The Estonian Road Administration has closed several roads in Pärnu, Viljandi, Jõgeva and Ida-Viru county.

Marek Simulman, press spokesman of Estonian Rescue Board told Baltic Reports that rescue teams have been sent out over 10 times to pump water from basements.

“Rescue teams will go and help to pump out the water in municipal buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc. In case of homes, we help to pump out the water if the water is threatening peoples’ safety,” said Simulman.

Closer to Tallinn, the Kopli village in the Rae municipality is still under water from 30-50 cm deep, surrounding the houses and covering the roads.

Veigo Gutmann, Rae municipality mayor said that there’s a lot of water but people are working on it.

“The switchboards of the village’s pumping station are underwater but hopefully we will get the water moving today or tomorrow,” Gutmann told Baltic Reports.

Gutmann said all the ditches are filled with water and the water has escaped the river by about 200 m. He did not know whether it is the peak of the high waters but guessed that the worst is yet to come.

Gutmann said that the high water is in the lowest part of the village which now acts as a bottleneck, “if that wouldn’t exist then there would not be any problems.”

Although such amounts of snow has rather stayed far into the past, it is still not only a consequence of melting water.

“The flood is a result of many factors, one is undone work by the real estate developers during the boom time,” said Gutmann. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]continue to rise.

Rein Haak, director of city economy department of Tartu municipal government said that the river is expected to rise for another couple of days, although exactly how much cannot be determined.

“It may happen that some people need to be evacuated or helped,” Haak told Baltic Reports. “We also have an agreement with the rescue board.”

Olga Kovalenko, a hydrologist at the Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said that in southern Estonia the water level should not increase much, but in the north it is and shall continue to.

“The water levels in rivers such as Kasari, Keila, Jägala, Vanaküla, and Vihterpalu in northern Estonia will rise,” Kovalenko told Baltic Reports.

The Estonian Road Administration has closed several roads in Pärnu, Viljandi, Jõgeva and Ida-Viru county.

Marek Simulman, press spokesman of Estonian Rescue Board told Baltic Reports that rescue teams have been sent out over 10 times to pump water from basements.

“Rescue teams will go and help to pump out the water in municipal buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc. In case of homes, we help to pump out the water if the water is threatening peoples’ safety,” said Simulman.

Closer to Tallinn, the Kopli village in the Rae municipality is still under water from 30-50 cm deep, surrounding the houses and covering the roads.

Veigo Gutmann, Rae municipality mayor said that there’s a lot of water but people are working on it.

“The switchboards of the village’s pumping station are underwater but hopefully we will get the water moving today or tomorrow,” Gutmann told Baltic Reports.

Gutmann said all the ditches are filled with water and the water has escaped the river by about 200 m. He did not know whether it is the peak of the high waters but guessed that the worst is yet to come.

Gutmann said that the high water is in the lowest part of the village which now acts as a bottleneck, “if that wouldn’t exist then there would not be any problems.”

Although such amounts of snow has rather stayed far into the past, it is still not only a consequence of melting water.

“The flood is a result of many factors, one is undone work by the real estate developers during the boom time,” said Gutmann. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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