A third person has died in Sweden following the relentless onslaught of a powerful winter storm, named Storm Johannes, which has been causing chaos throughout the Nordic region.
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued warnings for strong winds affecting large swathes of the northern part of the country where the storm made landfall.
Initial reports indicate that a man in his 50s tragically died when a tree fell on him at the Kungsberget ski resort in southern Sweden. Additionally, an employee of the regional utility company Hemab also lost his life while on duty due to the storm's dangerous conditions. A man in his 60s was severely injured by a falling tree while working in a forest in Hofors, and unfortunately, he also succumbed to his injuries.
As the storm rages on, it has left tens of thousands without power in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Over 40,000 households in Sweden experienced power outages, and numerous rail services were cancelled, further compounding the travel disruptions.
Authorities reported that both flights and ferry services were grounded across the region due to the windy conditions. In Norway's Nordland county, emergency services responded to over 200 weather-related incidents according to regional broadcasters.
The storm, which is referred to as Hannes in Finland, began to ease by Sunday morning, but not before leaving over 60,000 homes without electricity. In a startling incident at Kittila airport, strong winds pushed a passenger jet off the runway, although no injuries were reported.
This tragic series of events underscores the severe impact of Storm Johannes across the Nordic countries, as communities grapple with the aftermath of this dangerous winter weather.
