Extreme weather “Jakob” has isolated Einar’s farm at Sandvin in Odda – news Vestland

On Thursday evening, Odda was isolated, as a bridge collapsed and several roads were closed in Ullensvang municipality. On Friday, county road 49 Tokheimselva is open to traffic, but at your own risk as there are still high water levels in the river. One who still has to be patient is Einar Riise. His farm at Sandvik in Odda is still completely cut off. – Yes, you are looking at the picture. It has become an island! says Riise to news. Riise owns the red farm on the right of the picture. There, the water stands right up against the house wall. – Fortunately, the sheep have been taken in, but this will destroy the soil and lead to a lot of work. May continue to rise The water has not penetrated the buildings on Riise’s farm, for now. NVE has reported that the flood peak has been reached in several places in Western Norway, but in Odda the water may still rise. – The heavy rainfall is over, but the consequences still remain to be seen, says state meteorologist Julie Solsvik Vågane, to news. By Friday morning, the precipitation had subsided in most places in Western Norway, but: – There is still a danger warning for floods and landslides. Several waterways also have the potential to rise further, says Vågane, referring specifically to Voss and Odda. Kinsarvik without water – evacuation from Lofthus Riise is far from the only one in Ullensvang municipality that is now fighting against the water. The evacuation of homes at Hordatunvegen in Lofthus has been initiated. Ullensvang municipality reports this in a press release. The evacuation takes place as a result of the fear that the bridge out there will collapse. Work is underway to evacuate several houses. Ullensvang guest house is also being evacuated. There are probably 14 addresses being evacuated. In addition, the Kinsarvik waterworks has suffered extensive damage as a result of the extreme weather. Large parts of Kinsarvik are therefore without water, and water tanks have been arranged. The emergency tanks with water will be placed at Bråvolltunet in Kinsarvik and in Mikkelparken. In addition, flooding threatens several homes in Eitrheim and Stana. More than 50 people have been evacuated from there. On the night of Friday, a basement that houses art and antique furniture at Hotel Ullensvang was flooded. – It happens again and again Farmer Riise, who also works as a construction worker for Ullensvang municipality, is now calling for better flood protection in the municipality. He has also tried to ask for that in previous floods. – It happens again and again, and every single year. I had a flood a few weeks ago at the latest, says Riise and notes: – It is distressing for us that it is constantly being flooded, when there is a simple measure that could have prevented it. We have to get a flood tunnel in place at Sandvin. Riise says that due to repeated floods it is not possible to get the farm insured against floods. He says he also does not receive compensation from the authorities. – How long are we farmers going to keep doing this? he asks himself, and adds: – We are now two farms left at Sandvin, out of what were once seven farms. The others have given up. Published 01.11.2024, at 10.47 Updated 01.11.2024, at 11.02



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