OAN’s Avril Elfie
4:12pm – Thursday, February 1, 2024
Norway’s biggest storm in more than 30 years has ripped roofs off homes, downed power lines and raised fears of avalanches.
advertisement
Hurricane-force winds of up to 112 miles per hour battered many areas on Soemma Island on Thursday, setting a national record high wind speed of 191.7 miles per hour, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
Police said a bus carrying 14 passengers was also blown off the road in the small town of Laerdal, but no injuries were reported in the incident.
The storm closed many schools, roads, tunnels and bridges, and left an estimated 12,000 homes without power.
The Institute of Meteorology has issued a warning for the Arctic region, as well as several warnings highlighting the possibility of future avalanches.
In Bodø, a town in the Nordland region, police said windows at a local hotel were blown out, and police also said downtown Bodø was subsequently cordoned off due to a “danger to life and health”.
On Norway’s largest island, Hinnoeja, the University Hospital of Northern Norway reported that parts of the roof were severely damaged. Images published by Norwegian media showed a helicopter landing pad covered in debris.
“Roof tiles were flying all over the city,” Øyvind Alvola, a spokesman for the city of Hasta, told reporters.
Bjornar Gersvik, police spokesperson for the Troenderag region, told Norwegian News Agency. NTB He said public safety officials had received 40 to 50 reports overnight from people affected by the storm, and more were expected on Thursday.
This storm passed through the same area as one of the strongest storms ever to hit Norway in 1992.
Stay informed. Receive breaking news directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Please share this post!
