Three killed in Sweden as major storm sweeps Nordic countries

A 3rd particular person has died in Sweden after a strong winter storm swept throughout Nordic international locations, inflicting journey disruption and energy outages.

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for robust winds for giant elements of the northern half of the nation as Storm Johannes hit.

One man in his 50s died after being struck by a tree within the Kungsberget ski resort within the nation’s south, native media and police reported; whereas additional north, regional utility firm Hemab mentioned that certainly one of its staff died in an accident whereas out working.

Police additionally mentioned a person in his 60s was taken to hospital after being hit by a tree whereas working in a forest in Hofors, east-central Sweden, and later died of his accidents.

Tens of hundreds of houses in Sweden, Norway and Finland have been left with out energy because of the storm.

In Sweden, greater than 40,000 houses have been affected by energy outages and quite a few rail companies have been cancelled, Swedish information company TT reported.

A number of flights, rail and ferry companies throughout elements of the Nordic nations have been cancelled.

Roads and rail companies have additionally been disrupted because of the storm circumstances.

In Norway’s Nordland area, some of the northerly counties within the nation, the fireplace division responded to greater than 200 climate‑associated incidents, broadcaster NRK reported.

Storm Johannes minimize energy to round 23,000 houses in Nordland and an additional 9,000 have been with out electrical energy within the Inland area, NRK mentioned.

In Finland, the storm, identified there as Hannes, subsided on Sunday morning however had left greater than 60,000 houses with out energy, in accordance with public broadcaster Yle.

Flights at Kittila airport in northern Finland have been grounded after heavy winds pushed a passenger jet and a smaller airplane off the runway and right into a financial institution of snow, the Helsinki Occasions reported.

The Swiss Air jet, carrying about 150 passengers, had simply landed from Geneva and was taxiing when it veered off, the paper mentioned. The smaller jet, a 400XT mannequin, was on the bottom on the similar time and was additionally pushed off beam by the wind, it added.

There have been no reported accidents.