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Rescuers have discovered a seventh body from a landslide that buried houses in a village near Norway’s capital, according to police, but hopes remain that three still-missing people could be found alive.
The tragedy occurred in the early morning of Wednesday when houses were destroyed and moved hundreds of meters under a torrent of mud in the village of Ask, 25 kilometers northeast of Oslo.
Police spokesman Bjorn Christian Willersrud told reporters that they expected to find more survivors in the landslide area. “It remains a rescue operation until we decide otherwise,” he said.
Earlier today, the head of the rescue operation, Goran Syversen, told reporters: “We are working hard in the depression created by the landslide.
“We have five teams working at the same time. They are doing a very difficult job that is not without risks. However, we are making good progress.”
Police said the last body was found near where two others had been recovered, but gave no further details. Teams, backed by sniffer dogs, helicopters and drones, found three bodies today, one yesterday and three on Friday.
Three of the victims, two men and one woman, have been identified as Eirik Gronolen, 31, Lisbeth Neraas, 54, and Bjorn-Ivar Grymyr Jansen, 40.
But police have released the names of the 10 people, including a 2-year-old and a 13-year-old, who went missing on Wednesday.
Ten people were also injured in the landslide, including one seriously who was flown to Oslo for treatment.
About 1,000 of the city’s 5,000 residents have been evacuated due to fear for the safety of their homes as the earth continues to move.
“It is a completely surreal and terrible situation,” one of the evacuees, Olav Gjerdingen, told AFP, adding that his family was taking refuge in a hotel.
Rescuers were visited by King Harald, his wife Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon, who lit candles for the victims at a local church.
“I have trouble finding something to say, because it is absolutely horrible,” said the king after the visit.
“This terrible event impacts us all. I sympathize with you who are beginning the new year with sadness and uncertainty,” he said in a televised statement.
Authorities have banned all aircraft in the disaster area until 3pm tomorrow while conducting aerial searches.
“We are looking where we think we could still find survivors,” said fire team chief Kenneth Wangen, adding that the search area had been expanded.
The teams, also seeking to rescue the family’s pets, were digging channels in the ground to evacuate the victims.
The Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) said the disaster was a “rapid clay slide” of approximately 300 by 800 meters.
Quick clay is a type of clay found in Norway and Sweden that can collapse and become fluid when subjected to excessive stress.
Following the recommendations of the NVE, the authorities decided to reduce the evacuation, allowing some locals to return to their homes.
Some locals have lit candles near the perimeter of the disaster site in honor of the victims.
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