Police in Oslo and southeastern Norway were issuing warnings over the weekend that a sudden rise in temperatures would lead to icicles and heavy clumps of snow falling from the roofs of buildings. Either could seriously injure or even kill pedestrians below.
The icicle danger has been a major issue in recent winters, not least since a young man was hit in the head while walking down the busy street Frognerveien a few years ago. Another man was killed by a falling icicle in the same area.
Building owners have been ordered to remove snow and ice hanging from rooftops and gutters, or risk heavy fines. Police and firefighters were sent out to remove some especially hazardous icicles during the weekend, “but didn’t have the capacity to drive around and get rid of all of them,” operations leader Vidar Pedersen told news bureau NTB. “Building owners must take responsibility.”
The sun came out in the Oslo area for the first time in weeks on Monday, with temperatures rising well above the freezing point. The respite wasn’t expected to last, with state meteorologists predicting lower temperatures and more grey skies, also snow, later in the week.
newsinenglish.no staff
