Another two-dozen people had to be evacuated, this time from homes and a hotel in Eidsvåg in the region of Møre og Romsdal, after torrential rains and flooding threatened to set off more landslides. They joined others already being temporarily housed in nearby Molde until geologists deem the area to be safe.
A total of 18 people were evacuated from the Eidsvåg Fjordhotell and five from residents of nearby homes, reported local newspaper Avisa Driva and state broadcaster NRK on Monday. “It happened so fast,” Eidsvåg resident Ingrid Skar told NRK. “Suddenly there was a hill heading straight for our house. We were told to get out.”
Several other landslides forced evacuations during the weekend after constant local rain, with 41 people forced to leave their homes and farms by Sunday night in the Vistdal area. Others were allowed to return, even as “creeks turned into rivers in just a few minutes,” according to another resident, Harald Mowinckel, told NRK. “There was an extreme downpour,” he added, but it was very local, with the weather much better not far away.
Several roads have also washed out, isolating around 100 residents in Meringdalen between Eidsvåg and Vistdal. More rain was predicted throughout the week.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
