Winter Storm Hannes Disrupts Power and Transport Across Finland
Helsinki, The Gulf Observer: A powerful winter storm, named Hannes, swept across Finland over the weekend, cutting electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and severely disrupting air and rail travel as strong winds and heavy snowfall battered northern parts of the country, according to media reports.
Storm Hannes brought violent winds and intense snowfall, knocking out power to an estimated 160,000 households in western Finland and the Åland Islands, as electricity networks struggled to cope with the extreme weather conditions.
In Lapland, operations at Kittilä Airport were disrupted when strong crosswinds forced a passenger jet carrying around 150 people and a smaller aircraft off the runway into snowbanks. No injuries were reported, but several flights were delayed or suspended as weather conditions worsened.
The storm also caused widespread disruption to transport infrastructure, affecting rail services and airport operations across northern Finland. Airports in Kittilä, Rovaniemi, and Ivalo were temporarily closed or operated with limited capacity while crews worked to clear runways and restore services.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute issued warnings about dangerous winds and poor visibility, urging residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Emergency services remained on high alert as utility crews continued efforts to restore power supplies and clear blocked roads amid ongoing severe weather conditions.
