Thousands of Swedes still without power a week after storm Alfrida

Ulla Engberg, Radio Sweden
Posted: Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 13:38 — Last Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 13:50
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Many trees fell in Norrtälje municipality during storm Alfrida. (Ulla Engberg/Radio Sweden)

One week on from the storm Alfrida hit the coastline north of Stockholm, thousands of households in Norrtälje municipality are still without electricity.

On Tuesday afternoon, an estimated 6,500 people were without electricity in Norrtälje. For most people on the mainland, the electricity is expected back on Thursday, but for people living on the islands off the coast, the electricity company Vattenfall said it could take as long as until January 18-25th before power is restored.

Radio Sweden spoke to some of the people affected by the storm on January 2nd. Arne Eklund first told his girlfriend, he was sure the power would be back the next day. Marcus Westergren counts himself lucky, as the stables where he has his horses, has had electricity all along.

Lisa Thorell has found cooking food without electricity the biggest challenge, but the portable camping stove has come in handy.

Lena Hedberg and Katarina Pihlström are volunteering to keep the local school in Rådmansö open, so people can come and have a shower and go to the bathroom, and perhaps charge their mobile phones.