– It started to rumble, then I heard a slightly strange noise… That’s what retired fire chief and emergency manager Arne Skougstad told news. It was he who alerted the emergency services and caused the alarm to go off on Tuesday evening at Ringerike. Arne Skougstad notified the emergency services. Photo: Anders Haualand / news In the 19th century, a large landslide occurred in rough terrain and fell into the Sogna River at Avstikkeren, the road between Hønefoss and Ask. There was heavy rain in the area when the landslide occurred. Just a hundred meters away is a farm and several homes. Four meter high tidal wave The police’s operations manager Tommy Eriksen estimated the slide to be between 40 and 50 meters wide and 30 meters long. At 10 p.m., the police confirmed that they had evacuated two homes on the same farmyard that is located near the slide. Nearby, Arne Skougstad had taken a short break from outdoor work. The masses have spilled into the river Sogna and several properties have been affected in the area between Hønefoss and Ask. Photo: Ole Edvin Tangen Suddenly it started to rain. – So I looked around. I saw some bushes that started to shake and laugh very hard. I looked at other bushes and trees, but no, there was no wind, says Skougstad to news. The ex-fire chief was approximately 150 meters away from the Sognaelva when the landslide occurred. – Then I see a real tidal wave coming up, against the current! It was approximately four meters high and covered the entire width of the river. It went up as far as I could see, he recalls. After checking whether people had been caught by the landslide, Skougstad understood that a landslide had occurred, and contacted the fire brigade and the police. Next, he climbed a little higher to survey the terrain. To check if people had been caught. The slide is between 40 and 50 meters wide. Photo: Anders Haualand / news – There is a hiking trail nearby. It is not used that much, but you can never be sure, he says. When the police arrived at the scene of the crash, there was still some activity at the edge of the crash. The area was secured and a geologist from the municipality carried out investigations. But it was difficult to make assessments after darkness fell over Ringerike. Fortunately, the police established that neither life nor property had been lost. – It was a special experience. I only saw the bushes disappear and the tidal wave that came, says Skougstad. The farm with several homes is only 100 meters away from where the landslide occurred. Five people have been evacuated. Photo: Ole Edvin Tangen NVE carries out urgent ground investigations A large area is now blocked off until further notice. On Wednesday morning, the municipality’s geologist and emergency management in collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) assessed what should happen after the inspection. Emergency manager in Ringerike, Magnus Nilholm. Photographed here on a previous occasion. Photo: Sander Heggheim / news Emergency response manager in Ringerike municipality, Magnus Nilholm, tells news that they have flown a drone to map the landslide area. – How many have been evacuated? – Altogether there are five evacuees. What is happening now is that NVE has made a decision that an urgent basic survey will be carried out either during the afternoon or tomorrow. Then they make a report based on what happens after they have drilled into the ground, replies Nilholm.
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– Then only the bushes disappeared and the tidal wave that came – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
