As Norway grapples with record-high river levels, widespread flooding, and landslides, a dam in the country has partly collapsed, casting a shadow over the country’s recent storm-ravaged past. The Glåma River, Norway’s longest, was the primary culprit, causing chaos across the southern region. Storm Hans, a powerful tempest that swept across northern Europe, left a trail of devastation in its wake, with the latest estimated bringing the heaviest rain in 25 years.
In the midst of this chaos, a woman in her 70s lost her life after a fatal fall into a stream, while approximately 700-800 people were evacuated from Innlandet, the region where Braskereidfoss hydroelectric power plant is located. As a result, all main roads connecting Oslo to Trondheim were forced to close on Wednesday.
Police officials, led by Pål Erik Teigen, chief of staff at Innlandet police district, had initially considered blowing up the dam to divert excess water from the overflowing Glåma River. However, after water began spilling over the side of the dam, they decided to forego this option, opting instead to monitor the situation and work closely with Hafslund Eco, the power plant’s owner.
Rainy Havoc Unfolds in Norway’s CountrysideTeigen’s words echoed the dire situation unfolding in the region, “It’s a very heavy situation we have in this part of Norway in the last days because of the rain. If I made a training exercise for the police I wouldn’t in my wildest dreams think of this problem in our district.” And indeed, the scene unfolding before him was nothing short of catastrophic: landslides ravaged homes, rivers overflowed, and main roads remained impassable, leaving authorities scrambling to address the crisis.
Hafslund Eco issued a statement, revealing that a fault at Braskereidfoss power plant allowed water to seep into the power plant, comprising two large turbines and a dam with floodgates. While the company expressed relief that water had passed through the filling dam, situated adjacent to the power plant, they cautioned that many challenges lay ahead. The government’s hydrology institute, NVE, reinforced this sentiment, predicting that parts of eastern and central Norway would remain on high alert, as river levels were expected to continue rising into the following day.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre echoed this sentiment, visiting affected areas and emphasizing that the rain had only just begun to clear. “When the rain stops, another challenge begins: the water needs to get out,” he underscored, acknowledging the monumental task facing authorities as they work to mitigate the crisis.