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Fatalities reported as Storm Johannes batters Sweden
Three people have died in Sweden after Storm Johannes brought destructive winds and widespread disruption across the Nordic region, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Victims identified amid storm-related accidents
A man in his 50s was killed when a falling tree struck him at Kungsberget ski resort in southern Sweden, local media and police reported. In the north, a utility worker employed by Hemab died in a work-related accident while responding to storm damage.
Separately, a 60-year-old man succumbed to injuries after being hit by a tree while working in a forest near Hofors, east-central Sweden, police said.
Power outages and transport disruptions spread
Tens of thousands of households across Sweden, Norway, and Finland lost electricity as the storm downed power lines and damaged infrastructure. In Sweden alone, over 40,000 homes were left without power, while rail services faced extensive cancellations, according to Swedish news agency TT.
Norway's Nordland region, one of the country's northernmost areas, recorded more than 200 weather-related incidents, broadcaster NRK reported. Approximately 23,000 homes in Nordland and an additional 9,000 in the Inland region were without power.
Finland's airports and travel networks hit hard
In Finland, where the storm was named Hannes, winds grounded flights at Kittilä Airport after a Swiss Air jet carrying 150 passengers and a smaller 400XT aircraft were blown off the runway into snowbanks. The Helsinki Times reported no injuries from the incident, which occurred as the larger plane taxied after landing from Geneva.
Though the storm had weakened by Sunday morning, over 60,000 Finnish homes remained without electricity, public broadcaster Yle said.
Roads, rail, and ferries paralyzed across the region
Transport networks across the Nordic countries faced severe disruptions, with multiple ferry, rail, and flight cancellations. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris, compounding travel difficulties for thousands of passengers.
Sweden's meteorological agency had issued warnings for high winds across much of the country's northern half as Storm Johannes made landfall, exacerbating hazardous conditions.
