Tens of thousands of households without electricity after new storms

Some areas hit for second time in a week

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Nearly 30,000 households were without electricity on Thursday morning in different parts of Finland after a new storm swept over the country. Worst hit were the electricity supplies in Kainuu and North Karelia in the east, and Häme and Pirkanmaa in the south of Finland.
      Rescue officials and electric utilities were busy assessing and fixing the damage throughout the night. In some areas, the destruction could prove to be greater than that which was caused by the previous such storm which hit Finland nearly a week ago.
     
Before Wednesday’s new storm hit, Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre Party) toured areas affected by the storm that swept over much of the country in the early hours of Friday last week.
      During his helicopter tour of the area, Pekkarinen proposed the that electric utilities should establish of joint compensation funds for damage caused by storms.
      He also called for incentives to persuade electric utilities to put more powerlines under ground, where they would not be affected by winds and falling trees.
     
In Kainuu, 3,600 households were without electricity in the morning, according to the electric utility E.ON. At one point, blackouts affected 20,000 households.
      In the morning, the situation was worst in Paltamo and Puolanka. A helicopter was used to pinpoint damaged sections of power lines. According to E.ON Kainuu, electricity should be restored to most places within a day or two, although some might have to wait for several days.
      In North Karelia, up to 7,000 households had been without electricity during the night.
      In Häme, Central Finland, and Pirkanmaa, about 6,000 households were left with no electric service. According to Vattenfall, service should be restored to most places during the day.
      In North Savo, blackouts caused by the storm affected about 8,000 homes.
     
In South Karelia, all main roads were cleared of fallen trees during the night. Clearing damage on other roads is to continue in the morning.
     
Areas experiencing a second pummelling within a short time included Rautjärvi in South Karelia, where the high winds again blew down trees and damaged buildings.
      The greatest damage in South Karelia occurred in the centre of Rautjärvi, where several municipal buildings were damaged, including the school in Simpele.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Affected areas still struggling in aftermath of last week’s major storm (4.8.2010)
  Storm clearance work in Savo facing difficulties (3.8.2010)
  Thousands in rural areas of Eastern Finland still without electricity after Friday storm (2.8.2010)

See also:
  Freak storm wreaks havoc at campground in Central Finland Wednesday on afternoon;

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