A total of 26 people drowned between October and February after falling through the ice despite numerous warnings about treacherously thin ice. During the same period in 2006-2007, there were 15 drownings.

In the month of January alone, 18 drownings were reported by rescue crews.

Finns, like their Nordic neighbours, are fans of long walks, skating, cross-country skiing or snowmobile rides on frozen lakes and rivers.

But due to the mild temperatures this winter, the highest in more than 100 years according to the Finnish meteorology institute, the ice was either late to form or much thinner than usual.