Storms: More ferries cancelled, power outages reported on Wednesday
Rough weather conditions continued to affect shipping traffic on Thursday morning. Linda Line Express cancelled all of its scheduled departures on the Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn route on Thursday, and between the island of Hiiumaa and the Estonian mainland low water levels are keeping the ferries in the ports. Elektrilevi reported some 7,000 households without power on Wednesday evening.
Linda Line Express announced on Thursday morning that the continuing rough winds with speeds at more than 15 m/s forced them to cancel the day’s trips to Helsinki and back.
Ferries on the Rohuküla-Heltermaa-Rohuküla route to Hiiumaa on Thursday morning were cancelled as well due to low water levels. While two of the ferries, Regula and St. Ola, are too big and heavy for current conditions, the much smaller Harilaid is still operating on the route, moving as many cars and passengers as possible.
Storm leads to power outages
Strong winds cut off more than 7,000 households from the electricity network on Wednesday. According to network operator Elektrilevi, some 2,000 households still were without power on late Wednesday evening.
As the storms were going to last longer, the company recommended to countryside residents to stock up on batteries and candles, and to keep their mobile phones charged. Where the water supply depended on electricity, the company suggested people keep a few buckets filled as well.
Ferry traffic affected on Wednesday evening as well
Ferries to Hiiumaa came to a standstill on Wednesday afternoon, and the connection to the island was interrupted for a few hours until the smaller ferry Harilaid took up route service. Reduced capacity on the route means that Harilaid is operating outside the regular schedule, trying to get as many cars and passengers across as possible.
Between Virtsu and Kuivastu on the route to the larger island of Saaremaa, the ferry Ionas couldn’t move on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning due to low water levels and was replaced by the smaller ferry Hiiumaa.
For connections to both islands, line buses, rescue, ambulance, and police vehicles, the post, and vehicles of disabled people are given priority.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn