The Sakas island in the Daugava was still under water on Tuesday, but now the consequences of the flooding are seen: the road is torn up and there is a great deal of damage to the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, this is not the only place where damage is revealed only after water levels fell.
After several days of absence, people are returning to the previously flooded homes. Evacuation has also been canceled in the city and people may return to their homes. But not everywhere it is possible. Many homes are still flooded, and some have suffered such damage that returns before repairs are impossible.
“Today one family came from those homes. A big family. You can't repair anything over the winter, and it could be half a year [until they can return]. Then we let them choose from the service apartments that are available to us,” Jēkabpils Mayor Raivis Ragainis said.
In the meantime, where the Daugava had previously got through the dam, water pumping is now taking place
“The water here rose very quickly and flowed into neighboring areas along lower places. Where there used to be a small river like a ditch. Along those old roads, the water was basically up to the center of the city. With so much capacity basically [for pumping] it will take several days for it to go away because the area has really been flooded. At least 3-4 days,” said Commander Artūrs Dārziņš of the VUGD Jēkabpils Division.
As the situation stabilizes, entrepreneurs in the old town of Jēkabpils, which was one of the most threatened areas, are gradually returning to the normal pace of work. Some of them had not stopped their business at the weekend, but they felt a sharp drop in customer numbers. As water filled in the basements, the goods were carried out of them, and a large part of entrepreneurs have also purchased water pumps.
“It happened so quickly that we couldn't react. We were very hopeful that the water would not reach the height of the photographs at least,” said Ivars, owner of the private gallery Mans's.
The gallery is located in Jēkabpils' old town. The nearby dam can be seen through its window. “We stopped our activities, of course, taking responsibility for the people who come to visit the exhibition, it's a very big responsibility,” Ivars said. The basements in the gallery are full of water, too, but they have resumed work.
There are many small businesses, clothing and craft shops in the old town of Jēkabpils. On Wednesday, a large part of the businesses were already working. Many had not stopped their work at the weekend either, when the flood situation was very dangerous. There had been very few buyers.
The basements in the old town are still flooded, but in general, company employees said they had managed to save the goods. Nor does anyone currently intend to stop their business temporarily. They plan to work as normal, responding accordingly if necessary.
