Flights, ferries and most all other forms of transport were hit hard on Friday when a powerful winter storm slammed into much of Nordland County, Troms and Finnmark. Most mountain roads were closed, many flights were grounded and state highway authorities at Statens vegvesen warned that traffic trouble could drag on.
Dozens of cars and trucks were stuck on both sides of Saltfjellet, with drivers having to sleep in their cars. State broacaster NRK reported that one driver had been stranded for 19 hours since the storm set in Thursday night. The main E6 highway was closed over the mountains of Saltfjellet, and over Kvænangsfjellet farther north in Finnmark.
Airline Wideroe had to cancel all flights to Lofoten and Mo i Rana. The storm damaged a pier at Husøy in Troms and in Bodø, where the city’s small boat harbour was also closed. A roof blew off a house at Mo and a bus carrying school children blew off a road in Fauske. There were no injuries, but the children had to be evacuated from the bus through its roof windows. All schools were closed in Øksnes, Sortland, Hadsen and Andøy.
newsinenglish.no staff
