Two workers killed in boat accident at Latvia’s eastern border construction site

Two workers died and three others were injured after a boat capsized on Lake Peiteli while returning from a worksite at Latvia’s eastern border with Russia. 

The workers were involved in setting up pontoons along the border, Caliber.Az reports via LSM.

According to the State Real Estate Agency (VNI), which oversees infrastructure projects on the eastern border, one worker was declared dead by emergency medical services on December 5, and the second was found by rescuers on December 6. 

VNI Chairman Renārs Griškevičs expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said detailed information will be released following the investigation.

Sanita Bagińska, Head of Communications at Latvijas autoceļu uzturētājs (LAU), confirmed that the victims were subcontractor employees and that no active work was being conducted on the lake when the accident occurred.

The State Police have opened a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the accident and verify compliance with workplace safety rules. VNI and LAU emphasised that the incident will not affect the timeline for constructing the border fence, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

By Vugar Khalilov