Severe storm leaves over 800 customers without power in Mikkeli, Finland

Severe storm winds over the weekend heavily impacted the Järvi-Suomi Energy region. By midday on Monday, more than 800 customers in Mikkeli, Juva, Joutsa, Hirvensalmi, and Kangasniemi were still without electricity. Most of these households had lost their power since Saturday evening. According to Mika Mielikäinen, the operations manager at Järvi-Suomi Energy, restoring electricity to all customers will take at least another day. Some properties may remain without power for several days.

The area around the Puula waterway suffered the most damage from the storm. Mielikäinen reported that extensive damage occurred over a broad region, with trees falling onto numerous power lines and several electricity poles being downed. Repair efforts are complicated by the remote locations of the damage. Around 100 technicians are working in the field on Monday to address the issues. On Sunday, helicopters were employed to locate the extent of the storm’s destruction.

Initial forecasts did not predict the storm, leaving the company unprepared with additional staff for the weekend. Many workers are hunters, and weekend events, such as moose feasts, made it challenging to gather enough personnel at first. As the upcoming week approaches, Järvi-Suomi Energy is monitoring the weather with concern, as heavy snowfall could lead to further power outages.