On thin ice: Can Skellefteå handle another deep freeze?

The recent cold snap caused a lot of damage and problems for residents - and visitors - in Skellefteå.

Carina Sundbom lists problems such as frozen pipes, water leaks, road closures, vehicles not starting, house fires and cancelled buses and trains.

There were also several power cuts and problems with the district heating system, which left many homes without heat or hot water.

– I'm most worried about the district heating, says Sundbom.

So she has written four queries to the heads of several council bodies.

– We need to know how to deal with these issues in the future, because another cold snap could happen. Staff must be able to get to work, home care services must be able to function, and there must be heat in people's homes.

Markku Abrahamsson of the Sweden Democrats is concerned that many of Skellefteå Bus' buses couldn't operate during the cold snap.

– My basic question is whether the municipality's ambitious environmental targets will adversely affect public transport during the winter, says Markku Abrahamsson.

– I am not against electric buses, but I see a risk. Is there a problem with buses struggling to function in the cold? What shortcomings have been observed?

Skellefteå's winter woes: Ready for round two?

"Can Skellefteå cope with severe cold?" This question is on many people's minds after last week's severe cold snap. It's now a key topic for the upcoming city council meeting. "Do we need a new contingency plan?" asks Carina Sundbom from the Center Party.