10,000 households without electricity in southern Norway

Almost 10,000 households lost power in Norway's southernmost region of Agder on Sunday after strong wind and heavy snow hit the area, public broadcaster NRK reported.

Many trees had fallen over the power lines the night before and it would take time to repair them, according to power company Agder Energi.

"Strong wind and heavy snow made many trees falling over the power line network," said Hanne Liv Refsnes, senior communications advisor of Agder Energi.

According to Refsnes, Agder Energi has sent out an extra crew to correct the errors, but the working conditions were very difficult.

"It is challenging both on the roads and at the terrain, so it will take time to correct this," she said.

"We have ordered a helicopter that will control the lines throughout the day. It is much more effective than the crew working manually in the forest," she said.

Refsnes said that the county Vest-Agder had been hit hardest.

"We have got a message that a meter snow fell in Vegarshei municipality the previous night," Refsnes said.

"We evaluate always such incidents, but on a general basis I can say that our pathways are cleared in accordance with applicable regulations," she said. Endit