A local fishery near the dam was nearly completely submerged by yesterday evening and water has arrived literally at the doorsteps of the Sindi suburb of Linnuriigi, reported the Rescue Board.

Water levels have been increased by large blocks of ice that have clogged up the Pärnu river, which flows past Sindi, population 4,000.

“Locals have been informed, are at home and moving their belonging to higher places […] The biggest worry right now is disaster tourists, as they disturb local residents, damage roads and, if the situation gets out of hand, could hamper the work of rescuers,” Marko Šorin, the mayor of Sindi, told ETV on Wednesday evening.

So far rescue workers have helped five people and their pets to safety, with no injuries reported