Winter storm ‘Johannes’ kills 3, leaves over 40,000 without power in Sweden

A powerful winter storm, ‘Johannes’, sweeping across the Nordic countries has claimed three lives in Sweden and left more than 40,000 residents without electricity, disrupting travel and transport across the region.

Sweden’s meteorological agency had issued early warnings for strong winds over large parts of the country’s northern half. As the storm struck, falling trees, heavy snowfall, and intense winds further complicated the situation.

Local media and police reported that a man in his 50s was killed after being struck by a tree at a ski resort in southern Sweden. Further north, an employee of a regional utility company, Hemab, died in a work-related accident. Additionally, a man in his 60s, working in a forest, was seriously injured by a falling tree and later died in hospital.

The storm’s impact has not been limited to Sweden. Across the Nordic region, power outages have affected tens of thousands. Swedish news agency TT reported that over 40,000 homes in Sweden remain without electricity, and numerous rail services have been temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

In Norway, the Nordland region saw nearly 23,000 homes lose power, with a further 9,000 affected in the Inland region, according to broadcaster NRK.

In Finland, where the storm is known as ‘Hannes’, conditions eased on Sunday, but over 60,000 homes were left without electricity, according to public broadcaster Yle. At Kittila airport in northern Finland, strong winds forced a passenger jet and a smaller aircraft off the runway and into snowbanks. No injuries were reported, but flights at the airport were temporarily suspended as a precaution.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.