RIGA, Mar 4 (LETA) - Ice in the River Gauja near Carnikava started to move after 15:00 this afternoon, only minutes before the explosives placed on the ice were detonated, LETA observed. 

The ice jam was slowly moving towards the explosives but it did not reach them when the blast went off. 

After the blast, the ice continued to float downstream towards the sea.

On Wednesday, ice in the Gauja had halted about about 1.5 km from the mouth of the sea near Celaji. The water level was rising rapidly, submerging meadows near the Carnikava promenade and reaching some local residents' garages.

To prevent major floods in the area, it was decided to dislodge the ice jam near Carnikava by blasting it. 

Several hundred onlookers had arrived on the riverside Thursday to watch the ice being blown up in the Gauja.