The water in Norway’s rivers has reached its highest level in the last 50 years, thousands of people have been evacuated and many buildings have been swept away by landslides, Reuters reports.
Major roads have been closed and train services suspended in many parts of southern Norway as rivers burst their banks. The authorities have warned of the risk of flooding in the following days as well.
The Innlandet area is one of the hardest hit areas, and many people are believed to have been cut off from the outside world by the floods. The mayor of the district, Aud Hove, stated in a press release that
what is happening now is a national emergency.
On Wednesday, the 9th of August, the government decided to assign more helicopters for rescue operations. Authorities have indicated that there are currently no reports of fatalities.
Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and landslides have hit Scandinavia in recent days, knocking out power in many parts of Finland and flooding villages in Norway and Sweden.
On the 7th of August, a flood washed away a railway embankment in Sweden, and three people were injured in a train accident.
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