A heavy downpour in Riga led to an expensive breakdown of a recently purchased BMW. The car owner believes that the flooded intersection was the cause and is now demanding the municipality to cover the repair costs.
The incident occurred on Sunday night at the intersection of Lacplesha and Benjamins streets. According to the Bez Tabu program (TV3), Evgeny was driving on Lacplesha street during heavy rain and initially did not notice how deep the water had become on the roadway.
The car stopped right at the intersection. According to the owner, he could only get out of the car through the window.
"It was impossible to open the doors because there was deep water all around. If I had opened the door, water would have flooded the interior," Evgeny said.
According to the man, several other cars stopped behind him in the flooded area.
After the incident, municipal and state police arrived at the scene. Later, specialists from Rīgas ūdens opened a sewer manhole, after which the water quickly drained from the intersection.
The car owner suspects that the engine suffered a hydro-lock. Upon inspection, it was found that the air filter was completely soaked, and the engine could not be turned manually.
"I bought the car less than a month ago. Now, I will most likely have to look for a new engine. The repair could cost around five thousand euros," he said.
The man did not have time to arrange a comprehensive insurance policy, so he has already sent a claim to the Riga City Council demanding compensation for the damage caused. If compensation is not paid, he intends to go to court.
The municipality explained that the historical system on Lacplesha street combines stormwater and domestic sewage. During very heavy rainfall, such infrastructure reaches its capacity limit, so the water does not drain quickly.
Riga City Council representative Kristine Krista Vitola noted that solving the problem requires a large-scale modernization of engineering networks and significant investments.
Similar cases have occurred before. According to the municipality, last year insurance companies made five claims for damage compensation, and another ten claims were submitted by residents themselves.
Experts remind that during heavy rainfall, drivers should avoid flooded sections of the road. If it is impossible to bypass them, one should drive at minimal speed and not enter water deeper than the bottom of the wheel rim.
"If the engine sucks in water instead of air, the consequences can be very serious," warned automotive industry expert Ugis Vitols.
The story with the BMW has once again drawn attention to the problem of flooding certain streets in Riga during heavy rains and the question of who should be held responsible for the damage caused to drivers.
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