One month after the powerful storm that devastated Lithuania, the Fire and Rescue Department (FRA) has not yet completed an investigation into the failure to send warning messages to residents.

„The investigation is still ongoing. We will be sure to inform you of the results," Mindaugas Bajarūnas, Head of the Strategic Communications Division of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), told Elta this week.

At the end of July, the Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė instructed the PRTD to carry out a service inspection. This decision was taken after it was revealed that the population had not received special warning notices about the approaching disaster.

At the time, representatives of the PRT assured that meteorologists did not predict such strong winds and rain, so no warnings were sent to people. However, the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service said it had warned the authorities of strong winds and heavy rainfall coming to the country.

The storm in Lithuania caused widespread damage and left more than 160 000 households without electricity. A 50-year-old woman was killed in Grigiskes, Vilnius, and municipalities and residents are estimating millions of dollars of damage.