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– This is a disaster. It is one of the largest landslides we’ve had and with the biggest consequences, Prime Minister Erna Solberg says when she visited the area on Wednesday, reports the Verdens Gang newspaper.
Erna Solberg says it has been a “dramatic experience” to see the devastation at the site, but also to know that people are still missing, although it is not certain that they are in the masses.
He also says that relief efforts are made more difficult by the fact that the area is still very unstable and it can take days before it stabilizes. Erna Solberg also emphasizes that her thoughts are with the victims.
– I want to tell the victims that we think of them, that everyone in Norway thinks of them, both those who have lost their homes and those who wait for an answer, he says.
10 people not located
At around 0400 this morning, the police were alerted that a landslide had occurred in the center of Ask, in the municipality of Gjerdrum, some 20 km north of Oslo.
Several houses and cars were swept into the landslide, which consists of an area of 300 times 700 meters. To date, 900 people living adjacent to the site have been evacuated.
Initially, 14 homes were affected by the landslide, but during the afternoon, another 3 houses collapsed, according to the Police, which does not rule out that more houses may collapse. The police also claim that 10 people living in the area have not yet been located. Among them are several children, says Verdens Gang.
– They can be people who are in the mountains or who have been evacuated. But they can also be people who are within the racial masses, says task leader Roger Pettersen.
Due to the continuing risk of landslides, the innermost parts of the landslide area so far can only be investigated by helicopter. Police are also searching with the help of drones and thermal cameras. The search is hampered by darkness and bad weather, but will continue throughout the night.
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Several injured
Ten people were injured by the landslide, one of whom was seriously injured. However, there are still no reports of deaths. So far, 900 people have been evacuated, but according to the mayor of Gjerdrum, up to 1,500 people can be evacuated as there are several unsafe areas that are not.
– Up to 1,500 will likely be evacuated, and we may have to evacuate even more, Mayor Anders Østensen tells Verdens Gang.
Still at risk of landslides
Geologists from the Norwegian Water and Energy Agency (NVE) are on site to assess when it is safe to enter the area during the landslide.
The Romerike region, where Ash is found, is rich in fast clay that can change consistency from solid to liquid form. There have been several races in the region over the years. Today’s race was caused by fast clay and is one of the largest that has occurred in modern times in Norway.
Late Wednesday night, five more buildings collapsed, reports World gang.
– We hope there can be more, says task leader Dag André Sylju according to VG.
