The evacuation of people from drifting ice flows in the Gulf of Riga is complete, everyone has been rescued, RIA Novosti reported referring to the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (SFRS).
219 people were evacuated from the ice floes, all were saved. The evacuation is completed," the SFRS told RIA Novosti.
According to initial data of the rescue service, more than 500 people, mostly amateur fishermen, were on the two breakaway ice floes.
The ice floes broke away with a pause of a few minutes, the situation was aggravated by wind from the coast that blew the flows deep into the Gulf of Riga. Armed and Border Guard forces took place in the rescue operation.