Hedmark and Oppland counties in the east and Rogaland County in the west were especially hard-hit by more torrential rain this week that set off severe flooding. State authorities were posting earthslide warnings in Hedmark and Oppland because of the saturated earth.
After weeks of hot, dry weather that led to high forest fire danger, violent rain- and thunderstorms have set off all kinds of new problems. Residents Vigrestad at Jæren, south of Stavanger, woke up Thursday to find their homes surrounded by water almost half-a-meter high, and their ground-floors flooded. A local nursing home had to be evacuated and police closed off the central business district.
“There’s a lot of water in the streets and we’re afraid that manhole covers over the sewer system have disappeared under the water pressure,” Trygve Ravndal, operations leader for the Rogaland Police District, told state broadcaster NRK.
Heavy rain pounded the entire area along Norway’s southwest coast, forcing closure of many roads and cancellation of train and bus routes. Lightning also knocked out power to many areas.
Farther to the east, residents of Hedmark and Oppland counties were hit by more heavy rain, also in Trøndelag, spurring more flood and landslide warnings. More rain was in the forecast.
newsinenglish.no staff
