"According to a rough estimate, losses from the storm in Latvia on January 9 stand at about 70-90 million lats (100 million euros-128 million euros, 130 million dollars-167 million dollars)," Martins Roze, Latvian Agriculture minister told AFP.

"These are rough estimates, we will make them more precise during the forthcoming weeks, but it shows the extent of the huge damages done by the storm," Roze said.

At least 7.3 million cubic metres (258 million cubic feet) of wood came down during the storm, according to estimates by the Latvian state forest service.

Around 12 million cubic metres are cut in Latvia each year.

Timber is one of Latvia's most important exports, making up 31.7 percent of the Baltic country's export revenues last year.

Latvian Finance Minister Oskars Spurdzins was optimistic about getting possible help from the European Solidarity Fund.

"In about two weeks, when precise data are released on the losses, the government could consider approving the amount of losses and turning to the Solidarity Fund," Spurdzins told reporters on Thursday.

A country qualifies for help from the European Solidarity Fund if it has suffered a catastrophe that has a serious impact on people's lives, the environment and economy, and if the resulting damages are equivalent to 0.6 percent of gross domestic product.

In Latvia's case, that would be equivalent to 38 million lats, using GDP in 2003 as a basis for calculation.

Northern Europe, including the Baltic states, was lashed by the storm on January 9, which packed winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour (86 miles per hour).

Huge damages have also been done to electricity industry.

The Latvian government declared a national energy crisis on January 9, allowing it to deploy all emergency services to repair damage to the power network since most of the country was left without electricity.

Losses still has not been estimated for the power industry.

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