Storm Lyly wreaks havoc in Eurajoki, leaving thousands without power

Kimmo Nurminen, the CEO of Paneliankosken Voima, walks along the power line in Kuivalahden, Eurajoki, shaking his head in disbelief at the sight before him. The area is littered with fallen trees and severed electricity poles stretching for hundreds of meters. “Typically, trees fall onto the lines, but now we can’t see the line for a hundred meters due to the broken poles,” Nurminen explains.

At one point, over 2,000 households of Paneliankosken Voima were without power. By Saturday, this number was halved, but some residents may not receive electricity until later in the week. Customers have been quick to report outages, showing understanding of the unprecedented situation. However, some fear that their homes could remain dark for several more days. “People understand that this is an historically exceptional situation. Understandably, some are feeling emotional, and their feelings may not be positive,” Nurminen notes.

The damage caused by Storm Lyly is significant, prompting a massive workload for repair crews. However, restoring power quickly also requires adequate breaks and safe working conditions. The intense winds and downed trees have hindered repair efforts. According to Nurminen, the quickest recovery will come from allowing sufficient rest during the clearing process. “Working in the dark slows progress and adds stress, so it’s often better to take a break,” he stated.

He also emphasized the importance of safety, warning that individuals should not attempt to move or cut down trees near power lines. Interfering with low-hanging power lines is strictly prohibited.