Lithuania Declares Nationwide Emergency After Weekend Storm Damages Crops and Power Lines

Severe storms caused widespread damage to Lithuania’s agriculture and power infrastructure, prompting the government to declare a nationwide emergency and accept assistance from Polish crews, while separate fire-weather alerts were issued for parts of the western United States and reconstruction efforts continued in French territory Mayotte 18 months after Cyclone Chido.

Lithuania Declares Nationwide Emergency After Damaging Storm

Lithuania’s government declared a nationwide “extreme situation” after a severe weekend storm caused extensive damage to crops, livestock and agricultural infrastructure. [3] Lithuania’s government declared a nationwide “extreme situation” Wednesday following a severe weekend storm that caused extensive damage to crops, livestock and agricultural infrastructure. [3] The declaration addressed the scale of losses across agricultural sectors that included direct harm to growing areas, animal holdings and supporting facilities. [3] Officials determined that the weekend storm’s effects warranted the nationwide “extreme situation” label to coordinate response measures. [3] The storm’s impact on crops formed a central element of the damage assessment that led to the emergency declaration. [3] Livestock losses were reported alongside the crop damage in the government’s assessment of the storm. [3] Agricultural infrastructure suffered extensive harm that contributed to the decision for the nationwide “extreme situation.” [3]

Polish Teams Deployed to Restore Electricity

Polish electricity crews will begin helping restore power in Lithuania on Thursday following the storm that disrupted service nationwide. [5] Crews from Poland’s electricity distribution operator will begin helping Lithuania restore power Thursday after a severe storm disrupted electricity service across the country, Energy Minister Lukas Savickas said Wednesday. [5] The Polish crews are scheduled to start work on Thursday to address the nationwide power outages. [5] Energy Minister Lukas Savickas announced the arrival of the Polish assistance on Wednesday. [5] The severe storm had already cut electricity service in multiple areas before the Polish crews were requested. [5] The deployment focuses on restoring power disrupted by the same storm that prompted the nationwide “extreme situation” declaration. [5]

French Prime Minister visits Mayotte to accelerate reconstruction 18 months after Cyclone Chido. — Source: rfi

Fire Weather Alerts Issued Across Western U.S. and Oregon

A Fire Weather Watch was issued for the Owyhee Mountains in Idaho and parts of Oregon, with southwest winds 10-20 mph gusting to 30 mph, relative humidity 8-16 percent, and temperatures 85-93 degrees from Thursday afternoon through evening; any fires will spread quickly. [1] A Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch remain in effect for Modoc County in California and southern portions of two Oregon zones, with south to southwest winds 15-25 mph gusting 30-40 mph and low relative humidity; fires would spread rapidly. [2] The Fire Weather Watch for the Owyhee Mountains covers Fire Weather Zone 423 in Idaho along with zones 670, 671 and 672 in Oregon. [1] Conditions under the Owyhee Mountains watch include southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. [1] Relative humidity in the Owyhee Mountains watch area is forecast between 8 and 16 percent. [1] Temperatures during the watch period are expected to reach 85 to 93 degrees. [1] The watch period runs from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. [1] Any fire that develops under these conditions will catch and spread quickly. [1] Outdoor burning is not recommended while the watch is active. [1] The Red Flag Warning covers Fire Weather Zone 285 in California and the southern portions of zones 624 and 625 in Oregon. [2] Winds under the Red Flag Warning are south to southwest at 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. [2] Low relative humidity accompanies the winds in the Red Flag Warning area. [2] Any fires that develop under the Red Flag Warning will likely spread rapidly. [2] A Fire Weather Watch also remains in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for zones 285, 624 and 625. [2]

Slow Reconstruction Progress in Mayotte After Cyclone Chido

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Mayotte to accelerate reconstruction 18 months after Cyclone Chido killed at least 40 people and caused widespread destruction; only 12 percent of allocated 2026 funding has been spent. [4] Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrives in the French overseas territory of Mayotte on Wednesday to try to speed up the reconstruction of the archipelago, 18 months after Cyclone Chido caused widespread destruction. [4] The cyclone struck on 14 December, 2024. [4] Lecornu noted the need to build and renovate schools following the deadly cyclone. [4] He raised the issue of delays in the delivery or opening of public facilities. [4] A law passed in August last year provides €4bn in funding over five years to repair damage caused by the cyclone. [4] Only 12 percent of the funding committed and allocated for 2026 has been spent. [4] Lecornu promised to get projects approved under the law up and running. [4] He stressed the “definitive and irreversible nature” of projects set out in the law, including a second hospital, a new airport, a second prison and a desalination plant. [4] Lecornu is expected to visit a security post and an urban renewal area, and meet schoolchildren. [4] He is also due to address the Mayotte Assembly and meet mayors to discuss reconstruction efforts. [4] Lecornu has promised to return to the archipelago in early 2027 and set up an inter-ministerial monitoring committee before then. [4]

Political and Social Context in Mayotte

Leading trade unions, including the CFDT and CGT have called for strikes and demonstrations during his visit. [4] Unions are demanding higher wages to compensate for the high cost of living, as well as equal rights for residents of France’s overseas territories. [4] In his letter, Lecornu referred to upcoming decisions on tackling illegal immigration. [4] Around half of Mayotte’s 323,000 residents are foreign nationals, according to France’s national statistics agency Insee. [4] Most of them are from neighbouring Comoros. [4] Anchya Bamana, an MP from the far-right National Rally, has called on the prime minister to dismantle the Tsoundzou 2 camp, where more than 1,000 asylum seekers live in poor conditions. [4] She also called for a French Navy vessel to be deployed to improve surveillance of the coast. [4] A number of leading politicians have begun visiting the predominantly Muslim territory, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen won 59 percent of the vote in the second round of the 2022 presidential election. [4] Former prime minister Edouard Philippe, a candidate for the centre-right Horizons party, visited Mayotte last week and made a series of proposals aimed at “closing the immigration floodgates” on the archipelago. [4] Republican presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau visited before the March local elections to denounce a state that “no longer responds to emergencies” over insecurity and “migratory pressure.” [4]

What to watch next: Lecornu is expected to address the Mayotte Assembly during the visit while unions carry out planned strikes and demonstrations, and Polish crews are set to begin power restoration work in Lithuania on Thursday.