The encounter between the royal couple and the victims of the landslide: –

OLAVSGAARD ​​(Dagbladet): After meeting with representatives of the rescue teams and the Gjerdrum municipality on Sunday, King Harald and Queen Sonja headed to the Olavsgaard Hotel, where family members and avalanche victims are staying.

A total of seven people have been confirmed dead after the rapid clay landslide at Ask in the municipality on Wednesday night, while three remain missing.

We had prepared three groups and the royal couple sat with everyone. The royal couple are good listeners, so I think it was great and important for those who were able to come together and tell their stories, says the airport priest in Gardermoen, Torbjørn Olsen, to Dagbladet.

He was at the scene himself during the Sunday afternoon session, then meets Dagbladet outside the hotel.

Kudos to the emergency services – they made a big impression

– Talked about seconds in the dark.

Olsen says it was a “good mix” of families telling their stories to the royal couple.

– It was families with children, healthy adults and a family who came to the country as refugees, all with their own stories and strong stories, says Olsen.

– What did the families tell the royal couple about their experiences?

– They spoke in a very specific way about what they have lived, about the seconds in the dark, the despair and the reactions that have come later. How they feel now and a little about the way forward. It was nice and strong.

Olsen cannot go into detail about who the landslide victims are or how they have been affected, but emphasizes:

– Olavsgaard today is full of families with strong stories, which will take a long time to process. Some will spend the rest of their lives in it, and others will stay on the ground and have to start over.

– Everyone is moved

It was a clearly marked royal couple who met the press in front of the Olavsgaard Hotel on Sunday afternoon.

– I have trouble finding things to say, because this is absolutely terrible, said King Harald as Queen Sonja added that she was touched by the warmth of the people in the small township, while also praising the emergency services:

– We have obtained a good view of the work that the emergency services have done. They are talented people and good drive.

On the meeting between the royal couple and the avalanche victims, the airport priest Olsen says:

– I was also moved, but I stood and watched. I was very impressed by what was said. These are stories that one will remember for the rest of his life. It doesn’t take much imagination to answer the question of whether they touched us: yes, they touched us all. When we are allowed to walk a few steps with these families, it also does something with us.