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RIGA - A region in eastern Latvia declared a state of emergency today after trucks waiting to cross the border with Russia formed a queue 40 km long, a regional official was quoted as saying.
Truck drivers often face long waits to cross the border due to tough customs controls, but ahead of the Easter holidays some 1000 vehicles were waiting at one point in the Ludza region and more than 500 in another.
"It is important to organise traffic, put out extra traffic signs and control possible offenders," Ludza region chief Juris Dombrovskis was quoted as saying by Baltic news agency BNS.
He said declaring a state of emergency would let government bodies better deal with the situation, as it required extra temporary toilets for the drivers, more police and cooperation with the border guards.
The long queues also meant other vehicles could only use one side of the road, increasing the risk of accidents.
Transport Minister Ainars Slesers was quoted by newspaper Neatkariga Rita Avize as saying the border problems could only be solved by three-way talks between Latvia, Russia and the European Union's executive Commission.
- REUTERS
