On August 9, a dam in Norway experienced a partial collapse amidst the country's battle against unprecedented river levels, flooding, and landslides triggered by a devastating storm named Hans, The Guardian reported. The Glåma River, Norway's longest river, overflowed at the Braskereidfoss hydroelectric power plant, prompting Norwegian authorities to consider blowing up the dam in an attempt to manage the crisis. This incident follows the wake of Storm Hans, which has wreaked havoc across northern Europe and left southern Norway grappling with widespread flooding and landslides.
Tragic consequences have unfolded, as a woman in her 70s lost her life after falling into a stream, and around 700 to 800 people were evacuated from the Innlandet district, which includes the Braskereidfoss area. The severity of the situation has led to the closure of all main roads connecting Oslo and Trondheim. River levels are expected to continue rising until August 10.
Pål Erik Teigen, the Chief of Staff at Innlandet police district, revealed that authorities had contemplated a controlled explosion of the dam to alleviate the situation. However, as water began spilling from the dam's side, a decision was made to leave it, deeming it the most suitable course of action given the circumstances.
⚠️❗🇳🇴 - ALERT #Norway: During a catastrophic flood, water entered a power plant in Braskereidfoss causing extensive damage.
The government is considering blowing up a dam after days of heavy rain in Scandinavia caused flooding.
Thousands were evacuated because of the worst… pic.twitter.com/6hfWkTXTzb
The situation is dire, as the region faces relentless rain and numerous landslides, resulting in the evacuation of residents and widespread disruption. Hafslund, the company that owns the Braskereidfoss hydroelectric power plant, attributed the dam's compromised state to a fault that allowed water to infiltrate the facility.
The Norwegian Hydrology Institute (NVE) issued red alerts for parts of eastern and central Norway, underscoring the continued risk of rising water levels in many rivers and lakes. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who visited the affected areas, acknowledged the immense challenges posed by the ongoing crisis. As the rain subsides, the concern shifts to facilitating the safe drainage of accumulated water.
Comments (0)