A severe winter storm, identified as Johannes in Sweden and Norway and Hannes in Finland, has tragically resulted in a third fatality, compounding a trail of destruction across the Nordic region. The powerful weather system has inflicted significant casualties, widespread power outages, and severe disruptions to transportation networks.
The human toll escalated as Swedish authorities confirmed the death of a man in his 60s. The victim succumbed to injuries after being struck by a falling tree while working in a forest near Hofors, located in east-central Sweden. This incident follows two previous storm-related fatalities: one individual at the Kungsberget ski resort and a utility employee from the regional company Hemab, who died while performing restoration duties.
Infrastructure and essential services have been critically impaired. Combined figures from the affected nations reveal that over 130,000 households were plunged into darkness. Sweden reported more than 40,000 homes without electricity, while in Norway’s Nordland and Inland regions, approximately 32,000 customers lost power. Finland faced the most extensive outage, with public broadcaster Yle noting that more than 60,000 homes were impacted before the storm subsided on Sunday.
The storm’s ferocious winds precipitated dramatic travel chaos. A significant incident occurred at Kittilä Airport in northern Finland, where powerful gusts forced a Swiss International Air Lines jet, carrying 150 passengers, and a smaller aircraft off the runway and into snowbanks shortly after landing. While no injuries were reported from the aviation mishap, the event led to a full ground stop at the airport. Across the region, numerous flights, ferry crossings, and rail services were preemptively canceled. Road and rail travel faced ongoing disruptions due to hazardous conditions and debris.
Emergency services have been stretched to their limits. Norwegian broadcaster NRK highlighted the intense response in Nordland county, where local fire departments addressed over 200 weather-related calls. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) had issued advanced alerts for strong winds encompassing much of northern Sweden as Storm Johannes made landfall, underscoring the predicted severity of the event.