Rescuers search Latgale forests overnight for missing person

Shortly before midnight on Saturday, Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service received a call about a person lost in a forest in the Latgale region. The incident took place in Vaboles parish, in Augšdaugava municipality, prompting rescuers to launch a search operation.

Teams used quad bikes to comb through the forest area and relied on the sound signals of a fire tanker truck to guide the lost person toward them. The search ultimately proved successful, and the person was found.

This was the second such rescue within a single day. Earlier, on August 8 at around 5 p.m., rescuers had responded to a call in Engure parish, Tukums municipality, where another person had gone missing in the woods. That search also ended successfully.

Safety advice for forest visits

The State Fire and Rescue Service is urging people heading into forests to pick mushrooms, berries, or simply spend time outdoors to take precautions for their own safety. Before setting out, it is advisable to inform family or friends about the intended location and an approximate return time, and to carry a fully charged mobile phone.

If someone realizes they have become lost, the service recommends staying calm and avoiding aimless wandering. Instead, they should call the emergency number 112 and provide as precise information as possible about their location or any visible landmarks nearby.