A powerful winter storm has claimed a third life in Sweden after sweeping across several Nordic countries, triggering widespread power outages and major transport disruptions.
Sweden’s meteorological agency issued strong wind warnings for much of the northern half of the country as Storm Johannes moved through. Authorities confirmed that a man in his 50s died after being struck by a falling tree at the Kungsberget ski resort in southern Sweden. In another incident further north, regional power company Hemab reported that one of its employees was killed in a work-related accident during the storm.
Police also said a man in his 60s, who had been injured by a falling tree while working in a forested area in Hofors, east-central Sweden, later died in hospital, bringing the death toll in the country to three.
The storm caused extensive damage to infrastructure across the region. In Sweden alone, more than 40,000 households were left without electricity, while numerous train services were cancelled. Air, rail and ferry connections across parts of Scandinavia were also disrupted as severe weather conditions made travel unsafe.
Norway was similarly affected, particularly in the Nordland region, where emergency services responded to more than 200 weather-related incidents. Power cuts left around 23,000 homes without electricity in Nordland, with an additional 9,000 affected in the Inland region.
In Finland, where the storm is known as Hannes, conditions eased by Sunday morning, but not before causing outages to more than 60,000 homes. At Kittilä Airport in northern Finland, heavy winds forced a passenger aircraft and a smaller jet off the runway and into snowbanks. The incidents occurred while the planes were on the ground, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities across the Nordic region continue to assess the damage as power restoration and cleanup efforts remain ongoing.
About the author
Noépé-Akanu modernisé pour faciliter les échanges
Le poste de contrôle juxtaposé de Noépé-Akanu, à la frontière entre le Togo et le Ghana, bénéficie de nouvelles infrastructures destinées à améliorer la fluidité des échanges commerciaux. La cérémonie de remise officielle s’est tenue le lundi 16 mars 2026, en présence du ministre togolais de l’Économie et de la Veille stratégique, Badanam Patoki, et de la ministre ghanéenne du Commerce, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjaré, selon Togo Presse. Ces travaux, réalisés par Trade Mark Africa dans le cadre de l’appui à la mise en œuvre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf), visent à renforcer les capacités opérationnelles du site. Les aménagements incluent notamment l’installation de systèmes d’énergie solaire, la réhabilitation de l’approvisionnement en eau, l’amélioration du drainage ainsi que la rénovation des installations sanitaires. Situé sur le corridor stratégique Abidjan-Lagos, le poste de Noépé-Akanu constitue un point clé pour le […]
Togo : rebond des services marchands en décembre
Au Togo, les services marchands non financiers ont enregistré une nette reprise en décembre 2025, avec une progression mensuelle de 13,6 %, selon les données de la BCEAO. Cette performance intervient après une baisse de 5,9 % observée en novembre. Ces services couvrent plusieurs secteurs clés de l’économie, notamment le commerce, les transports, l’hôtellerie, les télécommunications et les services aux entreprises. Sur un an, l’activité affiche une hausse de 5,1 %, un niveau proche de la moyenne enregistrée dans l’espace UEMOA. À l’échelle régionale, la progression s’établit à 4,5 %, en léger ralentissement par rapport au mois précédent. L’évolution observée au Togo s’inscrit dans une année marquée par une forte volatilité. En novembre 2025, la croissance annuelle avait atteint un pic de 19,5 %, avant de connaître des replis mensuels suivis de reprises techniques. Plus tôt dans l’année, en septembre, […]
Le Nigeria veut augmenter ses exportations d’électricité
Le Nigeria a exprimé son intention d’augmenter ses exportations d’électricité vers le Togo, dans un contexte de demande énergétique croissante en Afrique de l’Ouest. Cette orientation a été discutée le 12 mars 2026 lors d’échanges entre la Compagnie énergie électrique du Togo (CEET) et la Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). Actuellement, l’opérateur nigérian fournit environ 75 mégawatts d’électricité au Togo dans le cadre d’un accord bilatéral. Il se dit désormais disposé à accroître ces volumes afin de soutenir le développement du réseau togolais, notamment face à l’augmentation des besoins des secteurs industriel et commercial. Pour les autorités togolaises, cet appui représente une opportunité de sécuriser l’approvisionnement en énergie, alors que le pays fait face à des tensions sur son réseau électrique. Les perturbations observées ces derniers mois ont mis en évidence les limites de l’offre actuelle. Toutefois, la NDPHC […]
Togo : améliorer la traçabilité pour conquérir les marchés
Le manque de traçabilité des produits agroalimentaires togolais freine leur accès aux marchés internationaux. Pour y remédier, la Haute Autorité de la Qualité et de l’Environnement (HAUQE) a lancé mardi à Lomé une formation de trois jours destinée aux TPME du secteur, avec le soutien de la GIZ via le programme ProComp. L’objectif est d’accompagner ces entreprises dans la certification de leurs produits et la mise en place de systèmes de traçabilité efficaces, incluant l’identification des lots et le suivi des flux de production. Cette démarche vise à renforcer la confiance des consommateurs et à faciliter l’accès durable aux marchés extérieurs. Le programme ProComp (Programme pour l’Amélioration de la Compétitivité du Secteur Privé au Togo) soutient ces initiatives pour améliorer la performance et la compétitivité des entreprises locales.
Togo : renforcer l’agriculture par le partenariat public-privé
Face aux effets croissants du changement climatique, le Togo cherche à renforcer la résilience de son agriculture grâce à des partenariats public-privé. C’est le message central d’une concertation tenue mardi à Lomé en collaboration avec la FAO. La rencontre a réuni responsables publics et acteurs privés autour de la stratégie nationale pour mobiliser le secteur privé dans des investissements agricoles climato-résilients et développer des partenariats efficaces. Selon la FAO, des financements internationaux sont disponibles pour soutenir le secteur privé dans des solutions durables pour l’agriculture, l’élevage, la pêche et la foresterie.
Togo : lancement d’une campagne nationale contre la polio
Une campagne nationale de vaccination contre la poliomyélite a été lancée au Togo, visant les enfants âgés de 0 à 5 ans, rapporte Le Messager du mercredi 17 mars 2026. Cette opération gratuite s’inscrit dans une riposte sanitaire urgente après la détection, le 20 février dernier, d’un cas de poliovirus de type 2 dans le district sanitaire de Mô, dans la région Centrale. Les autorités sanitaires mettent tout en œuvre pour éviter la propagation de ce virus hautement contagieux et protéger les enfants du pays.
Related
Trump calls on Japan and NATO to step up on Iran as Hormuz crisis lifts oil prices
President Donald Trump has pressed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and NATO allies to “step up” support for the US led war with Iran as surging oil prices hit the global economy . At a White House meeting, Trump praised Takaichi but urged Japan to do more to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s actions have severely disrupted tanker traffic and driven energy prices higher . He said Washington does not “need anything” from allies but argued it is appropriate for partners like Japan and NATO members to contribute more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the strategic waterway . Trump defended keeping allies in the dark about his Iran plans by invoking Japan’s 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, telling a Japanese reporter, “We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t […]
Iran attack on Qatar gas hub triggers Trump threat and energy price spike
Qatar has reported extensive damage at the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas hub after Iranian missile and drone strikes, raising fresh fears for global energy supplies . Tehran said it attacked the giant LNG facility in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which forms part of the world’s largest natural gas reservoir shared with Qatar . Oil prices jumped about five percent and European gas prices surged roughly 35 percent as markets reacted to the risk of prolonged disruption to gas exports from the Gulf . US President Donald Trump warned Iran to stop attacking Qatar, threatening that the United States would massively blow up the entire South Pars gas field if Tehran continued its strikes . In a social media post, Trump said Washington knew nothing about Israel’s earlier attack on South Pars, describing […]
US intel says China not planning 2027 Taiwan invasion
China does not have a plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and has set no fixed deadline to take the island by force, according to a new annual threat assessment released by the United States intelligence community . The report says Beijing still wants eventual unification with Taiwan but prefers to achieve this goal without going to war, even as it continues to modernise its armed forces and increase pressure on the island . US agencies noted that some American defence officials had previously pointed to 2027 as a possible window for a Chinese attack, but the latest assessment concludes there is no current operational plan for an invasion in that year . Instead, the report says that in 2026 and beyond, China is likely to keep using political, economic and military tools to squeeze Taiwan and shape conditions for […]
White House says China agrees to postpone Trump Beijing trip
The White House says China has agreed to postpone United States President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, which was originally scheduled to take place in about two weeks . White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Washington is now working with Beijing to secure a new date for the trip as soon as possible . Trump had earlier announced that he would delay his Asia tour because of the demands of the ongoing war with Iran, saying he expected to make the trip in about five or six weeks but without giving a firm date . In a response to Reuters, a spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington said head of state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to bilateral relations . The embassy said China and the United States will continue to maintain communication on President […]
Tehran Residents Live in Fear Amid Airstrikes
Residents of Tehran are living in a state of constant tension as airstrikes and drone attacks hit the city, leaving many fearful for their lives. Footage and testimonies obtained by the BBC reveal a population on edge, always anticipating the next explosion. Baran, a businesswoman in her thirties who requested her name be changed, describes her life as a daily gamble. “With the start of drone attacks, no one dares to go outside. Stepping out of my door feels like risking my life,” she says. She remains in constant contact with friends, tracking each other’s safety, even when silence alone feels threatening. The city’s recent unrest has compounded these fears. Following nationwide protests demanding change in January, thousands of Iranians were killed in a brutal crackdown. Many, like Baran, feel their hopes for reform have been shattered. Security measures are […]
Zelensky warns of missile shortage amid conflicts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that his country could soon face a shortage of key missiles due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which is diverting military resources away from Ukraine. In an interview with BBC News, Zelensky said the escalation involving United States, Israel and Iran risks weakening Ukraine’s defence efforts. According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin stands to benefit from a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, as it shifts global attention and resources away from Kyiv. Zelensky expressed concern that peace negotiations with Russia are being delayed, attributing the slowdown largely to the unfolding crisis in Iran. He also noted that rising global energy prices—driven by regional instability—are working in Moscow’s favour while putting additional pressure on Ukraine. A major issue highlighted by the Ukrainian leader is the potential shortage of air defence […]