Rīga City Council Extends Aid to Residents After Fatal Torņakalns Gas Explosion

Tragic Explosion Rocks Torņakalns District

A gas explosion on Friday, January 2nd, 2026, devastated a five-story residential building at Bauskas Street 15 in Rīga's Torņakalns district, leading to two fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident, which occurred in the afternoon, prompted an immediate emergency response and widespread efforts to assist affected residents.

The explosion claimed the lives of an employee from the gas distribution system operator Gaso and the resident of the apartment where the blast originated. Additionally, two other individuals, including a firefighter, sustained injuries. The force of the explosion caused significant structural damage, destroying the roof and parts of the fourth and fifth floors of the building.

Investigation Points to Illegal Gas Connection

Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was a result of a resident illegally tampering with a gas meter and an unauthorized gas connection for a stove in a fifth-floor apartment. Gaso employees had visited the apartment on January 1st to disconnect the gas supply due to an unfulfilled obligation or a lost contract, at which point they discovered and partially dismantled an illegal connection.

On January 2nd, Gaso received reports of renovation work at the apartment. When employees returned to the scene, the explosion occurred, reportedly after the tenant used a grinder to cut the remaining gas pipe. The building, managed by Latvijas Namsaimnieks, contains 74 apartments, with four owned by the Rīga City Council.

Rīga City Council Mobilizes Extensive Support

In the wake of the disaster, the Rīga City Council has swiftly mobilized comprehensive support for the affected residents. More than 40 people were evacuated from the building, with 35 evacuating independently and 11 requiring rescue. The municipality is offering:

• Crisis assistance: Residents can apply for financial aid from the Rīga Social Service within two months of the incident.
• Temporary housing: Initial accommodation is provided in municipal hotels, followed by municipal apartments for up to six months, with a total duration not exceeding one year. The Civil Protection Commission extended the temporary accommodation period from five to 15 days.
• Essential support: Additional assistance includes clothing, food parcels, and help with document renewal. The municipality will cover the costs of issuing new identification documents for those who lost them.
• Security and assessment: The Rīga Municipal Police are maintaining round-the-clock security at the damaged building. A meeting was held on January 5th with apartment owners to arrange for a certified construction engineer to assess the building's condition, a service the municipality will fund.

Rīga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs emphasized the municipality's commitment to providing 'decent housing, documents, and to pay the crisis allowance' to those impacted. The fate of the building, whether it will be renovated or demolished, is expected to be decided within a month. Pets rescued from the building have also been taken to shelters.