Thousands of households across Älvsbyns and Skåne in Sweden have been hit by widespread power outages.

The blackouts, which reportedly started in the early hours of the morning, have left nearly 6,000 homes without electricity.

Energy companies E-ON and Vattenfall, who are responsible for power supply in the areas, are currently working on restoring power.

However, severe weather conditions, including heavy wind, snow, and extreme cold, are complicating the repair efforts.

The temperature in Älvsbyns has reportedly dropped to as low as -35°C.

It is still unclear what caused the power outages, but all households are expected to have their power restored by the afternoon.