Winter weather hit southern Sweden with full force on Thursday and the police have received a large number of reports of traffic accidents.
The problem is that people drive too fast and they don't keep their distance, that's what creates chaos in traffic, says Leif Fransson, police spokesperson in the South region.
On many roads around southern Sweden, trucks are stuck due to the slippery conditions. For example, a number of trucks are stuck on the E22 north of Lund. The stretch of road is closed and will not reopen until late in the evening, according to the Swedish Transport Administration.
There are also major problems on the E6 outside Landskrona where a large number of vehicles are at a standstill. According to Aftonbladet , tracked vehicles are being used to distribute blankets and water to those who are stuck.
No injuries
So far, there have been no accidents with serious injuries, according to police.
A bus has driven into a ditch and overturned outside Ljungby, several media outlets report. No one needed to be taken to hospital. In Emmaboda, a bus with 20 passengers has slid off the road. The bus is leaning, but has not overturned. No one is injured, according to the police .
Several vehicles have been involved in an accident on road 15 near Osby. The road is closed in both directions and is expected to reopen at midnight.
One of the travelers who was stuck on the E6 during the evening is Roxy Knudsen, who was driving between Landskrona and Helsingborg with her husband. She tells Sydsvenskan that they exited the highway at Landskrona S at 2:45 p.m. and after four hours had not even arrived at Landskrona Norra.
A little more than seven hours later they finally arrived home in Helsingborg.
SMHI has issued an orange warning for parts of Kalmar County. Up to three decimetres of snow is possible from Thursday afternoon until late evening.
The snowfall appears to be increasing in northern Kalmar County, especially along the coast. There it is gaining momentum and becoming extra heavy, says Max Schildt, meteorologist at SMHI.
A yellow warning for snowfall also remains in place in large parts of southeastern and inner Götaland, where snowfall will continue during the evening and night.
Minister: Stay home
Minister of Infrastructure Andreas Carlson writes on X that “the situation on the roads is tense.” He states that preparedness is heightened and that he is in close dialogue with the Swedish Transport Administration.
"Follow the recommendations from the authorities. In several areas, it is important not to go out unless you have to," he writes.
The Swedish Transport Administration focuses on the southern parts of the country.
It is very much up to motorists to think carefully and perhaps not to take to the roads, says Beisi Sundin, the agency's press communicator.
Train services between Västervik and Linköping and between Kalmar and Linköping have been cancelled. The stoppage is in effect from Thursday afternoon until Friday morning.
SMHI has three levels of weather warnings:
Yellow warning: Consequences for society, some risks to the public.
Orange warning: Serious consequences for society, danger to the public.
Red alert: Very serious consequences for society, great danger to the public.
