At least 26 people have not been identified and more than 200 people have been evacuated after a massive sheet of clay caused a devastating landslide in the Norwegian village of Ask, about 16 km north of Oslo, around 4am on Wednesday. At least 10 people are being treated for injuries at a local hospital and several houses have been swept away. At least one person is in critical condition, authorities said.
“The situation is very dramatic. A major landslide has taken place and we are in the process of evacuating the inhabitants from the area “, said on Wednesday morning the local mayor, Anders Østensen. “Some of them have lost their homes and, of course, are having a hard time. There are many who are very upset and scared. “
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg wrote her concern on Twitter. “It hurts me to see how the forces of nature have devastated Gjerdrum,” she wrote. “My thoughts are with all those affected by the landslide.”
The area around the village is known for its soft clay soil that suddenly turns into liquid with fluctuating temperatures. Authorities are assessing whether rescue crews in the area are safe.
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