Two people have died in Sweden as powerful storms batter Northern Europe, causing widespread power outages and travel disruptions. The storms, impacting Norway, Sweden, and Finland, have prompted weather warnings and left thousands without electricity.
The Swedish Meteorological Institute issued warnings for strong winds across much of the northern half of the country as Storm Johannes made landfall. Tragically, a man in his fifties died near the Kungsberget ski resort in central Sweden. Police in Gävleborg reported that the man was struck by a falling tree and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
In a separate incident, a regional company announced the death of one of its employees. According to reports, the man was trapped under a fallen tree. The incidents highlight the dangers posed by the severe weather conditions.
Finland has also been heavily impacted. The Finnish Broadcasting Company reported that over 120,000 homes were left without power, with western regions experiencing the most significant damage. In Sweden, the Swedish news agency TT reported that more than 40,000 homes were without electricity.
The severe weather also disrupted air travel. Operations at Kittila Airport in northern Finland were temporarily suspended after strong winds pushed a passenger plane and a smaller aircraft into snowdrifts along the runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The incident underscores the challenging conditions faced by transportation infrastructure in the region.
DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. Stay tuned for further information and safety advisories.
