“Jakob” has created several challenges for the emergency services, after the extreme weather hit Western Norway on the night of Thursday. In Lærdal, it was dramatic when a lorry was taken off the E16 last night. – The driver himself tried to drive away from the collapse area, but it didn’t work. It was difficult to get him evacuated, but in the end it was done with the help of the fire service, says operations manager Tore Andre Brakstad in the West police district. The driver is physically uninjured. Danger warning still in place – The heavy rainfall is over, but the consequences still remain to be seen. That’s what state meteorologist Julie Solsvik Vågane says, after the extreme weather “Jakob” has ravaged Western Norway. In the morning hours on Friday, the precipitation has 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. The flood peak reached, but the water is rising. Hydrologist Trine Hegdal from NVE says that the flood peak was reached last night, as predicted. But she too is aware that the danger is not over. – Although the flood peak has been reached in most places, we see that there is still a rise in Voss and Odda, says Hegdal. – As we see it now, it is Odda that has had the biggest challenges from the extreme weather, adds Hegdal. She points to how Odda is now completely isolated after a bridge collapsed and several roads are closed in Ullensvang municipality. NVE will send expeditions on Friday to assess the situation and extent of damage. – How bad Odda and other affected areas have gotten, it is too early to say anything about. We simply have to wait for daylight, and for expeditions that our professionals will make, says Hegdal. The coast guard is now in place in Odda to be on standby and be able to contribute if needed. The coast guard is in place in Odda. Photo: Dina Gjertine Svendal Kleiven / news 39 closed roads: – Leave the car At 06.00 there are reports of 39 closed roads in Vestland, due to “Jakob”. – There are few roads that are open between east and west in our country now, says traffic operator at the road traffic centre, Marianne Hove. Hove says that the road traffic center has been harassed by the public in the last 24 hours. Many people wonder where and when they can drive. Large stones fell on national highway 13 in Granvin on Thursday. Photo: Kenneth Bryn – There have been several landslides last night, which must be cleared. It must also be safe for the crews to enter there. It is therefore difficult to say when roads will reopen. It can also go the opposite way. – The danger of landslides means that several roads may also be closed today. Our advice is therefore to leave the car parked today as well, warns Hove and states: – If you absolutely have to go out and drive, keep yourself well updated on road traffic reports and drive carefully. Trucks and excavators work to stop heavy rain in Årdal. Photo: Lasse Styve Andersen / Porten In Møre and Romsdal, the E136 is closed, after a landslide crossed the road at Vågstranda in Vestnes at midnight. At 10.00 a.m. a geologist will assess whether it can be reopened. Evacuation in Årdal At 22.15 on Thursday, a full evacuation was initiated in Årdal in Vestland. – There are people of all ages, who have either sought refuge with family or at the municipality’s youth center. 26 people slept there last night, says the mayor of Årdal, Christian Sønstlien. He himself hasn’t had a single hour of sleep when news talks to him on Friday morning. – This has been the worst day at work ever, but I am incredibly happy that everyone is safe and looked after. No one has been reported injured or missing, and that’s the most important thing. Mayor of Årdal, Christian Sønstlien (Ap) did not get a single hour of sleep the night of Friday. Photo: Sondre Dalaker / news He himself has not been evacuated from his home, but says he has the greatest compassion for those who had to be evacuated. – It is clear that being evacuated from one’s home is experienced as dramatic. It is a critical situation. I would like to praise the authorities and Norwegian People’s Aid that everything has gone so well, says Sønstlien and adds: – Now it remains to be seen the extent of the damage, and whether the evacuees can return to their homes. Art basement in historic hotel flooded In Ullensvang, several homes were evacuated on Thursday evening. On the night of Friday, a cellar that houses art and antique furniture at the Ullensvang hotel was flooded. – In certain places in the hotel, the water has risen to one meter above ground level, says Britt Marie Grieg, who is one of the operators of the historic hotel in Lofthus in Hardanger. The extreme weather “Jakob” caused a river opposite the hotel to overflow its banks. The water gushed down through the garage at the hotel and on to the hotel’s basement. – When we arrived, the water rose so fast that we had to run away from the area and contact the fire brigade and the police. They contacted the Civil Defense again, and were here as quickly as they could. But the entire downstairs is flooded, says Grieg. Apart from the basement, food service and room management continue as before at the hotel. – In the basement there is a lot of art, old furniture, historical antiques. All the art on the walls has been saved, and we have tried to carry away furniture of great value, she says. It was a night watchman who alerted Grieg at 03:00 last night. When news spoke to her at 07.20, the fire service had pumped out most of the water. Hi! Do you have any tips for this, or other matters? Please send me an e-mail: [email protected] Published 01.11.2024, at 06.51 Updated 01.11.2024, at 07.31
ttn-69
This is what you need to know about the extreme weather “Jakob” now – news Vestland
