Lithuania declares state of emergency after severe storm hits agriculture

The Lithuanian government has declared a state of emergency following a severe storm on August 22 that heavily impacted the agricultural sector and national infrastructure. The decision, initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by the National Crisis Management Centre, aims to provide a coordinated response to the widespread damage that transcends municipal boundaries.

By declaring a state of emergency, the government seeks to ensure uniform treatment for all affected farmers, regardless of their municipality. This status provides a formal basis for proving force majeure, which can reduce administrative burdens and strengthen Lithuania's position when seeking European Union agricultural support. It also allows for the potential waiver of certain obligations or sanctions for farmers unable to meet commitments due to these extreme circumstances.

The storm caused significant disruption, including over 9,000 power network failures affecting more than 268,000 ESO customers, and resulted in one fatality and four injuries. The Ministry of Agriculture is urging farmers to report losses—including damaged crops, buildings, machinery, and infrastructure—to their local municipalities by September 11 to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the damage.