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Storm wreaks havoc in Sweden
23/02/2008 18:16 - (SA)
Stockholm, Sweden - An overnight storm battered southern Sweden with hurricane-strength winds, knocking out power to tens of thousands and causing flooding in the coastal city of Goteborg, officials said on Saturday.
More than 80 000 households experienced power outages after the storm, which also caused major traffic disruptions. No serious injuries were reported. One person was hospitalised with minor injuries after getting trapped between falling trees, Swedish news agency TT reported.
Parts of a roof were torn off a house on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland, and a passenger bus was pushed onto its side in a water-filled ditch on Sweden's west coast.
Thomas Andersson, a spokesperson for The Swedish Road Administration, said downed trees blocked more than 40 roads overnight. Those roads later reopened.
At least six train lines in the southern part of the country were closed as rail companies worked to clear fallen trees from the tracks.
Sten Laurin, a spokesperson at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, said winds off the country's southern coast reached speeds of 140km/h, though the storm later eased. "It has pretty much passed now," he said.
Winds of about 119km/h are classified as hurricane-strength.
Inland, gusts of up to 114km/h were recorded in some places, Laurin said.
On Saturday morning, more than 50 000 Swedish households still experienced power outages.
- AP
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