Storm in Lithuania Fells Over 50 Thousand Trees

Throughout this week in Lithuania, more than 50 thousand trees have been toppled in forests due to the storm, and forestry workers continue to clean up the aftermath of this severe weather. The majority of trees were uprooted in the northern regions of the country. The approximate volume of broken timber that needs to be removed amounts to around 30 thousand cubic meters, as reported by LRT.

Foresters are currently occupied with repairing the storm's consequences and emphasize that strong winds can lead to the destruction of large trees and snapping of branches. This poses significant danger to those in the forest and to vehicles parked under large trees.

"From August 6th to 7th, a powerful storm swept across Lithuania, causing damage not only to the population and urban infrastructure but also to the forests. According to our estimates, up to 2 thousand hectares of forests were damaged. In some places, individual trees were broken or uprooted, while in others, several hectares were completely destroyed," says Valdas Kaubre, the CEO of Lithuania's State Forestry Enterprise (VMU).

According to VMU's CEO, the primary concern at the moment is clearing roads from fallen trees.

The most heavily damaged by strong winds are fir forests, as fir trees have shallow roots, making them easily uprooted. On the other hand, pine forests are more resilient due to their strong and deep roots. However, they are not immune to damage, as pines often break in half under strong winds.

This week, after a warm period with temperatures reaching 30 degrees, Lithuania was hit by storms with gusty winds, and in some regions, hail the size of a tennis ball also fell.

It's worth noting that other European countries have also faced severe weather. For instance, over the past few days, two-thirds of Slovenia's territory have been affected by sudden floods, causing damages that could exceed half a billion euros, stated the country's Prime Minister Robert Golob on Saturday. He referred to the flood as the "worst natural disaster" in the country's history, as reported by the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

According to Associated Press, as of Friday, the flood that started on Thursday evening resulted in landslides and at least three confirmed deaths. Houses were demolished, bridges and roads were destroyed, and water supply was disrupted in some parts of the country. Golob has not yet declared a state of emergency.