Winds decrease but storm claims first fatality
The storm has ripped off rooftops -- like this one in Salo, near Turku.
Image: Markku Vuotila
Police say it is now safe to go outdoors as winds have abated. Earlier the public were advised to stay indoors as Monday's storm tore rooftops off houses and felled trees, making it dangerous to be outside and difficult to move about by car. The storm has claimed one fatality. Clearing up operations are expected to take several days.
In Helsinki, gusty winds bent street lamps, flagpoles, fences and most notably felled trees. Torn off roof fragments and other construction debris were reported flying around in the air. Police closed off several streets due to fallen trees.
Despite the earlier police advice to stay inside, many people went out to witness the high stormy winds for themselves.
Police in Satakunta on the west coast advised people to stay indoors, because, apart from falling trees, there was also a danger of being hit by debris thrown about by gusty winds. Fire fighters also tackled a large blaze at furniture store in the area.
Also police in Varsinais-Suomi (south west Finland) note that the rescue department cannot keep up with clearing the road from all the felled trees. Police recommended motorists to take a chainsaw or some other land clearing instrument along if they can. A bridge has collapsed due to the storm near Perniö in south west Finland; no one was hurt.
The first fatality of the storm was reported on Monday afternoon when an elderly man was killed in Paimio by a falling tree. The University of Turku Hospital treated several patients on Monday for minor fractures caused by storm-related accidents.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) gave a warning for very dangerous winds in the provinces of Satakunta, Varsinais-Suomi and Uusimaa. Later winds will decrease quickly from the west. However dangerously strong gusts will persist especially in the south, the FMI forecasts.
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