Landslide sweeps away buildings in Norway; 11 missing

Ten people have been injured and 11 others are classified as missing after a landslide in southern Norway swept away more than a dozen buildings.

The landslide happened in the town of Ask, around 40 km northeast of Oslo, early Wednesday morning. It created a huge carter which is estimated to be 700 meters long and 300 meters wide.

Homes were left crushed and buried in dark mud. Snow fell throughout the morning as the emergency services evacuated the injured and attempted to secure those homes still standing. 

Rescue efforts continued through the night to find residents but weather and unstable ground prevented easy access.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who traveled to the village of about 1000 people, described the landslide as “one of the largest” the country had seen.

Authorities asked local people not to set off fireworks for New Year's Eve as they could interfere with the rescue operation and hinder the use of drone helicopters fitted with heat-sensing cameras.

The area around the village of Ask is known for so-called quick clay. Southern Norway has seen large amounts of rain in recent days, which may have caused the soil in the area to shift.

Quick clay is a sort of clay found in Norway and Sweden that can collapse and turn to fluid when overstressed.

Norwegian media reported that authorities in 2005 warned building companies not to construct houses in the area, but houses were eventually built there later in the decade.

SS