Tuuli Saari of the southern Ostrobothnia Ely Centre said that water levels continued to rise in some parts of Ostrobothnia and southern Ostrobothnia Sunday afternoon. She predicted that the situation could worsen due to sustained high water levels.
Scores of homes in Ilmajoki, Kauhajoki and Lapväärtti were marooned by the swelling waters, which flooded many cellars. The flood waters threatened to cut off coastal highway 8 near Lapväärtti and on the northern side of Vaasa.
Officials from local Ely Centres were out visiting their communities to evaluate what needed to be done, Saari said.
“There has been so much water in southern Ostrobothnia that even those areas that were safe earlier are being threatened,” she explained. “All the rivers and channels are full and overflowing.”
“It’s difficult to say where the situation is most acute, when it seems to be critical everywhere,” she added.
The situation in Nikkola, Ilmajoki was said to be exceptional, with additional embankments created to allow the flood waters to run off.
Environmental Administration: Situation "exceptional"
According to Bertel Vehviläinen, chief hydrologist at the Finnish Environmental Administration, water levels on Sunday were as high as Saturday and were still rising in many rivers.
Although he described the situation as "exceptional" he anticipated a turn for the better at the start of the week, as water levels were said to be receding in some of the smaller water courses.
The Satakunta region was also plagued by floods, particularly in the north. Emergency officials in southwest Finland however reported an improvement in the situation Sunday afternoon.
