King Harald and Queen Sonja on the Gjerdrum landslide: – Tributes to rescue teams:



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GJERDRUM (Dagbladet): At 11:00 am on Sunday morning, the royal couple arrived at the Gjerdrum house of culture, which is very close to the landslide area. There they were briefed on the rescue operation.

The royal family met with the emergency services, evacuees and affected in the municipality.

The extensive rescue operation for emergency services and volunteers applying to the area continues for the fifth day in a row. So far, five people have been found dead after the rapid clay landslide that occurred Wednesday night, while another five remain missing.

– Absolutely terrible

PRAISE THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITIES: King Harald describes the landslide at Gjerdrum as

HUG THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITIES: King Harald describes the landslide at Gjerdrum as “absolutely terrible”. Photo: Frank Karlsen / Dagbladet
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– Now we have left behind a day of moving. It is absolutely terrible and difficult to put into words what happened, says King Harald and continues:

– I’m having trouble finding things to say, she says and praises the help team for the work they have done.

When asked what has impressed King Harald the most, he answers the following:

– These are the stories we hear about people who have left the houses while staying behind. Some have even torn down houses. These are strong stories, says King Harald.

MARKED: The local community of the municipality held a torchlight procession on Sunday to honor the dead.  Photo: Frank Karlsen / Dagbladet

MARKET: The local community of the municipality held a torchlight procession on Sunday to honor the dead. Photo: Frank Karlsen / Dagbladet
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Heart heat

Queen Sonja says she was moved to see the local community tagging with torches along the way when the royal family arrived in Gjerdrum.

– This small municipality of 7,000 people has a warm heart that we have experienced so strongly today, says Queen Sonja.

In addition, he says that they have gained a very good insight into the work that has been done in the emergency services.

– Very impressive, skilled people, good unity and not least that everything was so fluid – that it is possible to find good ways to carry out this difficult work – made a great impression, says Queen Sonja.

These are the missing ones.

Touching greeting

TO VISIT: King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon arrived in Gjerdrum on Sunday, which suffered a landslide on Wednesday, December 30. Video: Øystein Sæthre
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In his New Year’s address for 2020, King Harald arrived with a moving salute to those affected in Gjerdrum.

– I sympathize with you who are entering the new year with pain and uncertainty. With you who have lost your homes and are desperate right now and don’t see the way forward, he said.

The king also highlighted the efforts that the authorities, emergency services and civil society have made during intense hours of work and demanding conditions. On Sunday he met with representatives of the Gjerdrum municipality and the emergency services and repeated the message.

– I appreciate the work that the emergency services have done these days since this landslide occurred. They have been day and night trying to save material and people, and they have removed many. But sadly, some are missing, says King Harald.

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