Eight dead as storm whips Denmark and Sweden, strands freighter

Eight people were reported dead after a fierce storm swept across Denmark and Sweden on Saturday, as a Dutch freighter issued a mayday call off the Danish coast and more than 341,000 households were left without power, officials said. Copenhagen’s Kastrup airport closed down for several hours, as did the Malmoe Sturup airport in southern Sweden, as hurricane strength winds lashed the region and authorities urged people to stay indoors if possible. Both airports later reopened. The Dutch freighter issued a mayday call at 1540 GMT after a fire broke out in its cargo of containers, Lars Hansen, head of operations for the Danish SOK sea rescue services, told AFP. The 15-member crew tried to extinguish the flames but later evacuated the vessel and boarded a lifeboat. They were picked up by a Danish rescue ship after several hours.