Updated – Residents of central Norway awoke to scenes of havoc and homes without power Thursday following the country’s most powerful storm in more than three decades. Hurricane-force winds hit parts of the Scandinavian country, with gusts of up 180 km per hour.

Some areas were flooded, and airlines and ferry operators temporarily suspended service. There were scattered reports of closed schools, roads, tunnels, and bridges both Wednesday and Thursday.

Hurricane-strength gusts also were reported overnight in Sweden. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued a red warning for the western part of the Norrbottens district, which borders Norway.

The storm, named Ingunn by Norwegian meteorologists, landed in central Norway on Wednesday afternoon before moving north Thursday. The Meteorological Institute had issued a red warning, its highest alert, for the Arctic region.

Several windows were blown out of a hotel in Bodoe, a large town in the Nordland district, police said. Downtown Bodoe was later sealed off because “there is a danger to life and health,” according to police.

Finland

Meanwhile, in Finland, labour unions in Finland went on strike Wednesday, starting a three-days labour action that will affect up to 300,000 workers and severely disrupt the daily life.

National airline Finnair said it was forced to cancel some 550 flights, and substantially cut down traffic at Helsinki Airport, its main base.

The strikes are also closing public transport and affecting hotels and restaurants from Wednesday to Friday.

Finnish media said the goal of trade unions is to force the government to start talks with labour organizations on suggested social security cuts.