Some of the residents evacuated from Jekabpils may return to their homes, but they should be prepared to evacuate again if the situation becomes worse, said Jekabpils municipal council chairman Raivis Ragainis reported on Monday, the 16th of January.
He invited residents to not consider re-evacuation a tourist event, because «it makes it difficult to work efficiently and effectively». He invited residents to travel as little as possible and avoid going to flooded areas.
On Monday, around 11:00 a.m. the water level had dropped to about 8.17 m. «It is good that the water level is going down, but the mass of ice remains still, and this creates pressure on the dam,» said Ragainis. The municipal council has hired hydrologists to study the situation and provide recommendations.
In the end of his video address, Ragainis thanked the city’s residents for their understanding.
Residents on the right bank – Dārzu Street, Rīga Street, Krasta Street – are able to return to their homes, as the evacuation has been cancelled.
For reasons of safety, it is not possible to say if residents from Zvanītāju Street and Celtnieku Street could be allowed to return to their homes soon. As soon as hydrologists and municipal authorities decide how to redirect the water back into Daugava River, residents will be allowed to return to their homes.
Evacuation buses are not available at the moment because there is no need for them any more.
Re-evacuation is planned to be performed little by little, because this is not just about safety from floods but also the safety of the sewer system and quality of drinking water. Specialists say that the safety of the right bank of Daugava River is fully guaranteed. Sewer and water pipes are operational. Heat is supplied as well.
Jekabpils protective dam is in poor shape. It is being worked on 24 hours every day. For residents to return to Celtnieki micro-district, it is first necessary to check the dam and conclude if it is safe for residents to return. The dam is damaged, the mass of ice stands still. At the same time, the flow of water may change at any moment. As the flood is not over, repeated evacuation may be necessary.
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