Riga, July 16 (LETA) - Last week's rainfall damage in the Augsdaugava municipality has risen to EUR 0.5 million, LETA learned from the municipality.

When the municipality started to gather information about the damage, it reported losses of about EUR 100,000 to LETA. Now it is estimated at around EUR 500,000 euros.

Road sections have been washed out, some are still completely closed to traffic. Vitalijs Aizbalts (Latgale Party), chairman of the municipal council of the Augsdaugava municipality, said the damage is quite dramatic, with 60 road sections washed out, totaling almost 16 kilometers.

The municipality of Augsdaugava has appealed to the Smart Administration and Regional Development Minisry for financial support to restore the damaged road sections, as there are no funds available for this purpose.

"We are currently working on repairing at least minimal damage so that buses can start running again. Many sections of national roads are closed and detours have been diverted to our district roads," informed Aizbalts.

By the end of July, all damages will be identified, estimates and procurement results will be submitted to the ministry. "We are asking the state to compensate 70 percent, while the municipality is contributing 30 percent," explained Aizbalts.

The damage to farmers in the municipality, whose crops were washed away by the rains, has also been very severe.

"Two weeks ago, the farmers had to submit the damage to the Rural Support Service (LAD), with all the photos. They have done so," explained Aizbalts.