– This is not normal, says Jan Bergh. He looks out over what was last night a lawn. – Here in the area it’s almost normal, says neighbor Monica Tangen. The residential area outside the center of Bodø is one of several places in the area that are partially or completely under water. For Bergh, this is the fifth time in 14 years that the cellar has been completely filled with water. And the two fear it will get far worse in the years to come. – The water goes over my boots anyway, says Monica Tangen. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – This time we’re lucky Jan Bergh says the first four times he had the cellar filled with water meant he was well prepared. – In the end, my entire veranda went. This time I don’t think there will be any bigger consequences than the cellar being completely full, he says. But it also means that the cellar will be wet right up until spring. – It will smell terrible. In hours, the basement has gone from being dry to 120 centimeters of water. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Neighbor Monica Tangen has lived in the area for seven years. For her part, this is the second time the floods have entered the house. – Last night there was nothing, and now we have a river in the garden. There is deep water and good water flow. Nevertheless, she believes it could have been worse: – There is no frost on the ground. This time we were lucky. The water supply into Jan Bergh’s house. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Bergh says that the drainage in the area must have been improved after the last time it went wrong. – The municipality said it was all right, now the pipe should be able to remove the water. It should have been planned for the future, taking into account that there will be more rain and precipitation. He adds: – We are not ready at all. Workers from the municipality were on site on Tuesday morning to try to pump water away. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Consequences in a number of places It is by no means just this neighborhood in Nordland that has had challenges beyond Tuesday. At Ørnes, the town woke up to the fact that the center had turned into a river. At Bertnes outside the center of Bodø, the municipality has closed the road to Soløyvatnet, and it will not open until Wednesday morning at the earliest. This road goes in a circle around the water Soløyvatnet. On the opposite side of this water, the road is also flooded and closed: Jan Bergh and Monica Tangen say there is no doubt that the weather is a consequence of climate change. – Now there is 40 mm of rain, this is just a taste of what we can get. We know it will get worse, says Jan Bergh and adds: – Climate change is real. The two neighbors say good neighbors are important for getting through difficult situations like this. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Several days of pumping water await. – Last time it probably took five days, says Monica Tangen. – It will also be wet until spring, adds Bergh. Published 05.11.2024, at 14.02
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