Wind storm knocks out power to 35,000 homes in Sweden

Scores of Swedes woke up in the dark Sunday after a major winter storm blew through and knocked out electricity to around 35,000 homes, utility officials said. Repairs were being complicated by a large number of trees that were toppled by the gale and were blocking streets in three central Sweden provinces. "This is a relatively serious situation," said Jacob Holmstrom, spokesman for the power company Eon. "There are many [outages] spread over a large geographical area." The storm, which was dubbed Hilde by forecasters, roared into Sweden Saturday afternoon and was still stirring up bluster winds nearly 24 hours later. The Swedish news agency TT said drivers were urged to stay off the highways and a biathlon tournament in Ostersund had to be called off. "There is too much wind," said event spokesman Anders Andersson. "The competitors' safety can not be guaranteed."