Landslides, trees, roadblocks and large rocks are located above the RV. 13 in Ullensvang after a rock slide between the Oksla and Stanata tunnels this morning. Rune Lofthus is the general manager of Lofthus bygg, which is located half an hour north of the landslide area. One of his employees was working on the other side of the fjord when he heard the rumble. When he turned around, he saw the masses of rocks thundering down the mountainside and across the road, and just managed to film the landslide. – It’s just pig luck that there was no life, says Lofthus. The landslide has gone from high in the mountainside, across the road, and out into the fjord. Photo: Norwegian Public Roads Administration Around 1000 cubic meters The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has been navigating the area by helicopter and drone today. Construction manager Rolf Anders Svendsson, says that the landslide is around 600 cubic meters. This has detached from 470 meters. – The 600 cubic meters have dragged down the hill, and in total plus what they have carried with them, it is around 1000 cubic meters, which have come down into the road and the sea. – Is there a risk of more landslides? – As we see it now, it is relatively safe to work here, says Svendsson. There is damage to both road safety and infrastructure, and the avalanche safety net came with the landslide. Photo: West police district Small margins The police were notified of a major landslide at 07.08. Lofthus says that he and his colleagues often drive on the road between Odda and Kinsarvik. Just this morning, three of his employees had driven on the stretch. Two of them were on their way home from night shift in the seventies. – The one who drove first got through, while the one who came behind was stopped. We are talking about small margins, he says. According to him, there is a lot of granite in the mountain sides, which makes the area vulnerable to landslides when the fine weather turns out. – There are a lot of landslides here, but it is rare that there are such large landslides. You can see the rocks splashing in the fjord, and it is not something you expect on a nice summer day. Hardingen calls for better landslide protection, and wants more politicians to come on the scene to secure the roads in the district. – It seems that people almost have to go into the landslide to get landslide protection in place, he says. Uncertain when the road will open – There is damage to car protection and infrastructure, so it may take some time to fix, says Ommedal. The contractor has set up roadblocks, and the road will be closed until further notice. A geologist has also come to the site to assess the risk of landslides. – A lot of loose material has been observed up in the mountainside, says Ommedal. Jenny Nilsson at Vegtrafikksentralen says that it is uncertain when the road will reopen. – Geologists are on site, but we have not received feedback on what needs to be done yet. There are large and heavy rocks that have fallen. Photo: West police district Long waiting time for ferry connections It is possible to drive via the ferry connection Kvanndal – Utne, and Kinsarvik – Utne. On these ferries there should be a long wait. The queue is now so long that the road traffic center asks motorists to avoid the ferry connection from Kinsarvik to Utne. If you are going between Bergen and Odda, it is possible to drive via the Folgefonn tunnel, take a ferry between Jondal and Tørvikbygd or Gjermundshamn and Årsnes.
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– Pig luck that there was no life – news Vestland
