The ice in Finland's sea areas has weakened considerably recently. The Coast Guard has rescued several people who have fallen through the ice in the past few days.
The Easter holidays, good weather for outdoor activities and mild temperatures are a dangerous combination from the Coast Guard’s point of view, said Janne Ryönänkoski, search and rescue coordinator of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard.
Ryönänkoski said on Friday afternoon that more than half a dozen people had been rescued from the ice in the past two days.
"I’d say that more people have fallen through the ice now than at the same time in many previous years," he said.
Dog saved with a surfboard
Off Helsinki's Kulosaari island, an ice fisherman fell through the ice late Friday morning. A bystander called emergency services and saved the angler by using a coat as a rope substitute. The rescuer also ended up in the water, but both made it to the shore safely.
Another man fell through the ice in Taivassalo, near Turku in southwest Finland. He managed to get back onto the ice and crawl to shore, the Western Finland Coast Guard said on Friday afternoon.
Also in the southwest, a dog sank through the ice near Kimitoön on Friday afternoon. A person went to save the dog on a surfboard. They both got on the board, but Coast Guard lifeguards had to help them to the shore.
"There are many migratory birds on the ice now. If a dog is unleashed, it may run after birds on the ice," said Ryönänkoski.
Ryönänkoski pointed out that the ice situation has changed very quickly. Venturing onto the ice is not recommended in any sea areas, especially in southern Finland.
"In places where ice was still load-bearing yesterday, it may no longer be today," he said.
The Coast Guard warned of hazardous conditions in a social media post on Thursday afternoon, saying that "the ice has weakened rapidly along the entire southern coast. In the past 24 hours, several people who have sunk in the ice have been rescued. Going on the ice is not recommended, even near the shore."
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