300 miles of the road network and 42 roads have been washed away and impossible to pass, says the Swedish Transport Administration's director-general Roberto Maiorana at a press conference about the situation in Västernorrland after the recent heavy rainfall.
It has been and is a serious situation. The night has been calm, he says.
He also says that national road 90 will be opened on Friday.
”Done everything we could”
On a question about whether the Swedish Transport Administration acted quickly enough with warnings and roadblocks, since one person died in an accident due to the heavy rainfall, Maiorana replies:
Of course, we take that criticism to heart. At the same time, we have to put it into perspective. It's about 300 miles of road. We have done everything we could to be out as quickly as possible.
Up to 100 millimeters of rain fell in a short time on Sunday, September 7, in some places even more, which mainly affected Härnösand, Kramfors, Sollefteå, and Örnsköldsvik.
More rain to come
According to SMHI, about 30-40 millimeters of rain have fallen during the night towards Friday in the worst affected areas.
However, there are large local variations, notes meteorologist Therese Fougman:
The rain is moving north and seems to be clearing up during the morning. Then it can be filled up with rain showers during the afternoon.
Regarding Saturday, it looks much calmer with sun and higher temperatures.
On Sunday, it looks like it will rain again, but at present not nearly as much as before. If there is a need for warnings, we will issue them.
”All of Sweden”
It affects us here in Västernorrland, but it also affects all of Sweden, says county governor Carin Jämtin at the press conference.
Jämtin mentions the need to get the infrastructure up and running as soon as possible, for residents but also for businesses.
First and foremost, it is community-critical activities that are allowed to pass through, adds MSB's director-general Mikael Frisell.
Frisell says further that they have now, via the EU, received help with satellite surveillance over the area, something he hopes will facilitate quick action in the event of future heavy rainfall in the near future.
