15 not counted – NRK Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio

Police moved around 04:00 on Wednesday night to a major rapid clay landslide in a residential area in downtown Ask en Gjerdrum in Romerike in Viken County.

The number of people who have not been counted has been reduced from 26 to 15 people.

Police inform NRK.

The 15 are people living at addresses within the landslide area.

So far no finds have been made and no one has been confirmed dead as a result of the landslide.

– We’re looking for survivors, not dead. Medical personnel will inform us regarding the temperature and how long people can survive, and when we can start looking for the dead, says Roger Pettersen, manager of police operations.

Searches are only conducted by helicopter because it is too dangerous for rescue personnel to enter the area.

New race

At 3.30 pm, two more houses collapsed.

– There are several houses that have collapsed in the red zone, but these are evacuated houses, says the head of task in the place. AND

The red zone is the one with the exposed area and where it is most dangerous to travel. Helicopters with bright lights search the area. Additionally, helicopters have heat search cameras.

– The darkness presents challenges, but we will illuminate the place with light sources as much as possible, but there will be a limitation, says Pettersen.

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There may be more landslides

Toril Hofshagen, regional manager of the Norwegian Directorate for Energy and Water Resources (NVE), says the situation remains dire.

– There is a Sea King helicopter in the air with our crews on board for a closer assessment now of the landslide development. We also have drilling rigs underway to conduct investigations on land and delineate evacuated areas in the best possible way, he says.

– Is there a danger of more landslides?

– Yes, it is an unsolved situation. Throughout the avalanches that have passed, there is still a risk that more will erupt at the rear edge. Therefore, it is very important to maintain evacuation until more is known about stability in the area. This is a large area that we are talking about.

Searching from the air.

Several have been evacuated by helicopter during the day. The helicopters have been in the area for several hours.

– They will see people if you have an extended arm. If you’re in the middle of a house, it can be difficult to find them by helicopter, says Task Leader Pettersen at Police East.

At 2 pm, Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Justice Minister Monica Mæland (H) came to the culture house in Gjerdrum to receive a letter from the event.

– It is a dramatic experience to be here and see photographs of the accident site and of course to know that there are several that have not been accounted for, says the Prime Minister.

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Prime Minister Erna Solberg: – This is a great disaster.

700 evacuees

One person was taken to Ullevål hospital with respiratory problems after the landslide. The condition was previously described as serious, but now it should go well with the person.

In addition, four people with minor injuries were transferred to Ahus. They cool after resting on clay masses. Five people were also taken to the emergency room, police said.

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Around 700 have been evacuated in Gjerdrum.

– I haven’t spoken to you, but being picked up by helicopter is dramatic. They are well cared for, Petersen says.

The eastern police district encourages evacuees to visit Gjerdrum ungdomsskole to register. Police write in a press release that rescue work is in full swing, with a focus on saving lives.

Among the largest landslides of recent times

The landslide is among the largest of its kind to occur in Norway in recent times, according to NVE.

The landslide has an extension of 300 x 700 meters. The starting area is additional.

– This is perhaps one of the largest camp landslides we have had in Norway. Perhaps the biggest, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

The cause of the landslide is not yet known.

– We are not in full control, says regional leader Toril Hofshagen.

Expand the evacuation area

– Police describe this as a disaster, Police Operations Manager Pettersen previously said.

At least 14 addresses were affected by the landslide.

– In these addresses there are different housing units, there may be different apartment numbers and so on. We are now mapping this and working to find out who lives in the different apartments, Pettersen said.

Read also:

Christina’s house leans towards the avalanche: – It’s surreal

At a press conference, police said they have expanded the evacuation area after the landslide to be safe. This happened after a geological assessment was conducted.

– We do not know when we will be able to physically enter the area. We just have to relate to that and listen to the experts. Since we are told we can let our rescue teams in, we will do this, Pettersen said.

I received dramatic messages

Pettersen says police received several dramatic messages from residents in the area in the morning.

– We have received messages from desperate people who have called the police emergency phone and said that the whole house is in motion and that they are under roof tiles and insulation also more. Then there are dramatic messages and the situation is serious, he says.

Currently, the police do not have an overview of how many houses were affected by the landslide. There are different types of houses and accommodation units in the area.

Several hospitals have been preparing for emergencies, but have now lowered their level of preparedness.

– A disaster

The police have been at the scene with patrol cars and police helicopters since this morning. Ambulances, fire, defense, civil defense and volunteer personnel are also available.

– It’s serious when we describe it as a disaster. It is a large landslide area and many homes. We have some photos of the area, but it is dark and the working conditions are difficult. We look forward to getting more general information when the power comes out, Operations Manager Pettersen told NRK on Wednesday morning.

Due to the danger of landslides, the police cannot enter everywhere.

The Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) has geologists on site who are working to get an overview of the landslide.

– They’re working to find out if it’s safe and get inside, says Ringseth.

Romerike has a large fast clay presence and there have been many landslides in the area over the years. But what caused the landslide is currently unknown.

The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) also dispatched rapid clay landslide experts to the landslide site.

– Experts review all previous geotechnical studies and reports that have been conducted on the site to get an overview of soil conditions, says NGI Communications Manager Øydis Ulrikke Castberg.

According to NVE, similar large landslides are unlikely to occur elsewhere in Romerike now.

– People are in shock

The municipality has put crisis personnel. Gjerdrum ungdomsskole functions as a temporary collection point and evacuees are transported to the Olavsgård hotel.

– So far we have filled three buses. There are more than 150-200 people who have been evacuated. People have been rescued by helicopter and some have been sent by ambulance, said Mayor Anders Østensen in NRK Nyhetsmorgen.

Describe the situation as very dramatic.

– This is very demanding. People are in shock. It is a great and grave disaster.

Gjerdrum has 6,800 inhabitants. At Ask, where the landslide has occurred, there are approx. 5000 people.

Fylkesvei 120 is currently closed from Åsenhagen, just north of Skedsmokorset and towards Ask. Gjerivegen east of Ask, as well as Hexebergveien and Frognerlinna are also closed, according to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.