– More than 25 people have been evacuated from the valley, three people are slightly injured, says operations manager for the police, John-Endre Skeie to news. High avalanche danger in the area means that rescue crews are not allowed to search through the avalanche from the ground. – It is continuously assessed whether it is safe enough to send crew in to apply where one sees wreckage. As of now, we have to wait because the danger of new landslides is too great, says Skeie. The landslide came loose at 13.30 from an altitude of 1600 meters. It reached all the way down to the road. Four cars were caught by the avalanche. A man, a woman and a child are slightly injured. – They were by a car when they were hit by parts of the avalanche, Skeie states. Ended manual search At 9 pm on Friday night, the police state that the manual search at the outer edge of the avalanche has ended. No finds have been made in the area that has been searched. The police are currently awaiting an assessment from a geologist and professional leader from the Red Cross and the fire service’s special group for searches. These must assess safety before further searches can be carried out. The police have control of 44 people who were in the area when the landslide occurred. There are currently no people reported missing in the area, but the police will not rule anything out until everything has been checked out. From Bergen, work is now underway to contact everyone who has been in the area in the time before the landslide. It is planned to fly in a drone with a heat-seeking camera over the area after the helicopter with the geologist has finished the overflight. – It’s about saving lives Edvard Middelthon, rescue leader at the Main Rescue Center in southern Norway, tells news that they have no reports of missing or seriously injured. – There is some material damage, but we see it as insignificant in this context. This is about saving lives, and we hope that no one is missing or seriously injured in this, says Middelthon. VG was informed by the Main Rescue Center that more than 20 people were inside the area that was locked up, but were taken out. – We have evacuated those who are to be evacuated. It is the police who coordinate the efforts in there now, and we support with air resources, says Middelthon. Two rescue helicopters, five air ambulances and a civilian helicopter are in town. – Working hard The regional sheriff in Nordfjord, Tormod Hvattum, emphasizes that work is underway to get an overview of who has been in the area and the status of these. RESOURCES: The Red Cross, police, fire and ambulance are in place in Lodalen. Photo: Wibeke Bruland The landslide was notified by a driver who saw the landslide go. Kjenndalen is located between Lovatnet and Jostedalsbreen in Stryn municipality. Avalanche: The avalanche must have started in Lodalen in Stryn. – We are working hard to get an overview of the area, said Cecilie Øversveen in the Main Rescue Center on Friday afternoon. She estimates the width of the landslide at 400 meters, and adds that there is an “imminent danger” of new landslides. Gathering crisis staff The police are in place with what they refer to as “large resources”. – The situation is confusing and the police are working together with the other naudetaten to obtain an overview of the scope, says Gry Benedicte Halseth in the West police district. A dog patrol will search the landslide as soon as it is justifiable for the crew. The West police district controls the operation on the ground, while the Main Rescue Center controls the operation in the air. Stryn mayor Per Kjøllesdal says they are in the process of gathering the crisis staff. He states that the landslide, as he has understood, has gone between Kjenndalstova and Kjenndalen. There are no houses here. – We gather crisis staff to see if it is necessary. Then we are at least ready if there is a need, he says. – It was a dramatic message to get? – Of course, there are such messages we do not want.
ttn-69
Large avalanche in Kjenndalen in Stryn – ends manual search – news Vestland
