More than 500 people are being swept into the Gulf of Riga on two breakaway blocks of ice, the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service was quoted RIA Novosti as saying today.
There are 43 people on one block of ice in Mayori area and 500 people on the second block of ice in Vakarbulli area.
"The situation has been complicated because of strong winds blowing from the shore," emergency service representative Viktoria Shembele told the media today.
She said that there are mainly fishermen on these blocks of ice.
The armed forces, border guards and relevant agencies are working out a plan to rescue people and transport them to the coast.