A park located in the center of Oulu became dangerous as a power outage caused flooding – this is what it looks like now
A park in Oulu, Finland has become hazardous due to flooding caused by a power outage that affected the local power infrastructure.
The Hupisaarten City Park, known locally as Ainolan Park, has had restricted access following a flood that occurred on Sunday. This flooding resulted from a power outage caused by heavy snow, which left a key power line from Oulu Energy without electricity. As a consequence, water levels above the Merikoski power plant fluctuated dramatically, breaking ice cover and transporting debris into Ainolan Park. The situation has worsened as the ice condition in the Oulu River deteriorated, raising concerns for the public's safety.
Linda Webster, the Marketing and Communications Director of Oulu Energy, advised against venturing onto the river ice, highlighting the dangerous conditions that currently exist. Although the water levels have receded since the flood, it remains unpredictable for individuals attempting to traverse the ice formations in the park. Authorities have set up barriers to restrict access to the affected pathways within Ainolan Park; however, there were still visitors present on Monday morning, raising concerns about public safety and awareness regarding the hazards.
The event illustrates the challenges posed by severe winter weather conditions in Finland, particularly the risks associated with ice and water safety in urban parks. Local officials are actively monitoring the situation to prevent accidents and are likely to issue further advisories as they assess the ongoing stability of the area. The flooding not only disrupted recreational activities but also serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure during harsh weather.