Spring flooding has begun across Lithuania, inundating dozens of homes and several roads, with western and northern regions among the hardest hit, officials said.
In western Lithuania, flooding is most visible in Priekulė, where the Minija River has overflowed its banks, flooding local parks. The river has also spilled over in Gargždai.
In Šilutė District Municipality, a road to Žalgiriai village has been submerged, and about 43 homesteads have been affected. Several roads are also flooded in Pagėgiai Municipality, though residents can still access their homes via alternative routes. Near Uostadvaris, ice jams are preventing water from flowing into the Curonian Lagoon, causing river levels to rise.
Authorities said residents do not yet need to evacuate but urged them to remain prepared.
Water levels rose noticeably overnight in Priekulė, according to local officials, with some residents already using pumps to protect their properties. The municipality said it had prepared sandbags, pumps and generators in advance, though they have not yet been widely deployed.
In Kėdainiai District Municipality, the Nevėžis River has burst its banks, flooding garden communities and city parks. In Pašiliai village, several homes and yards are under water after levels rose by more than 2 metres over the weekend, including 85 centimetres in the past 24 hours.
Floodwaters have also covered walking paths, playgrounds and tennis courts in Kėdainiai. Officials said water levels have reached 29 metres, about 1 meter below the critical threshold.
Residents in affected areas have received warning messages, and about 100 people are considered to be in at-risk zones. Authorities have delivered sandbags to help protect property and are advising residents to monitor updates, stay in contact with neighbours and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.
Flooding has also affected northern Lithuania. In Pakruojis District Municipality, the Kruoja River has flooded an island and parts of a park in the town centre, while surrounding farmland has been heavily inundated. In some fields, water levels exceed 1 meter, raising concerns about significant losses for farmers in the largely agricultural region.
Local officials said such flooding has not been seen in the area for 16 years. Efforts to manage water levels using dams have had limited success, as releasing water can worsen flooding downstream.
Authorities expect conditions in northern Lithuania to improve in the coming days. However, the most difficult hydrological situation is forecast to persist in the lower reaches and delta of the Nemunas River, where water levels continue to rise.
Residents across affected regions are being urged to remain vigilant.
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