Water has caused such chaos in Brazil that even a Liepāja beach lifeguard would have come in handy

The Brazilian cities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá have experienced floods that claimed 30 lives. Meteorologists warn of further downpours, but here in Liepāja, we call that regular January holidays at the Southwest beach.

"In Brazil they're evacuating 3,000 people, but for us in Karosta that amount of water would just be a good reason to open the outdoor shower season," comments local beachgoer Jānis, who regularly goes swimming even in December. "And what are they doing with those 39 missing people? For us they would have simply gone to Rose Square for coffee."

In Minas Gerais state, rainfall has twice exceeded February norms, but in Liepāja we call that normal weather during a concert at Liepāja Concert Hall. While Brazilians fear landslides, our tram has been running on such roads for years that any landslide would only be a road improvement.

"The mayor of Juiz de Fora declared a state of emergency, but for us in Liepāja such a state exists every day — we live extraordinarily well," says local café owner Maija. "And while they're searching for people with dogs there, we know that all of ours are either at the market, or in Karosta, or on Grobiņa Street — nobody gets lost."

But seriously speaking, such natural disasters are tragic, and our thoughts are with the affected families. However, one cannot help but notice that while Brazil struggles with water, in Liepāja we've been friends with it for centuries. And that's our advantage — we know how to live alongside nature, not fight against it.