Avalanche at Alnestind – no one caught

After more than two hours, the police declared that the avalanche had not captured anyone and ended the search operation. By then, the avalanche dogs and the avalanche group had searched the area.

The landslide is said to be about 100 meters wide and 50 to 100 meters high, according to Tove Anita Asp and Arild Reite, police operations directors.

– We have been in contact with several witnesses who say they are sure that no one has been caught by the avalanche, but we continue until we are 100 percent sure, Arild Reite told Åndalsnes Avis before the operation ended.

Three helicopters

Three helicopters were dispatched to the scene: ambulance helicopter from Dombås and Ålesund and rescue helicopter from Florø. The latter stops in Hovden to pick up crews from the Sunnmøre Alpine rescue group, says Jan Lillebø, rescue leader at the Main Rescue Center.

Alnestinden is a popular trip located by Trollstigen, at 1665 meters above sea level.

– I can confirm that there has been an avalanche on the northeast slope of Alnestinden, says Lillebø.

Operations manager Tove Anita Asp in the Møre og Romsdal police district tells Sunnmørsposten that there have been reports that the landslide is approx. 100 meters above the parking lot.

– Who reported the landslide?

– There were some of those who were standing in the parking lot who saw that there had been a landslide. We have not been able to contact them on the mountainside due to a lack of mobile coverage, the operations manager said as the emergency progressed.

– Have ski slopes been observed inside or outside the avalanche zone?

– There are many ski slopes. There are between 10 and 15 people who have skied on the side of the mountain, so it is difficult to tell.

On Friday morning, Vegtrafikksentralen announced that County Highway 63 over Trollstigen had been opened to traffic after being closed since Saturday.