Landslide Injures at least 10 in Norwegian Town of Ask
A landslide (山体滑坡)has smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital at midnight on Dec. 30. injuring at least 10 people, leaving 21 unaccounted for and (destroy) several homes, authorities said.
About 700 people have been brought to safety for fear of further landslides.
The landslide cut across a road, leaving a deep gap that cars not pass. Video footage showed dramatic scenes including one house falling into the gap. Photographs showed at least eight destroyed homes.
Rescue workers continued to search the area for children and adults (believe) to have been caught in mud and debris (废墟), police said. "We're still looking for survivors? police spokesman Roger Pettersen told a news conference.
Pettersen said there were no reports of missing people, but officials could not rule out the possibility there might be survivors in collapsed buildings. He said 21 people registered as living in the area arc unaccounted for.
One of the injured was seriously hurt, while nine had (light) injuries. Weather at the time was reported to be challenging, with snowstorm sweeping the village of Ask, about 5,000 people inhabited.
Norway's King Harald said the landslide had made a deep impression on him. "My thoughts are with all those who are affected, injured or have lost their homes and chose who now live in fear and uncertainty of damage the disaster has caused," he said in a statement released by the royal palace.
The area in which Ask (locate) is known to have a lot of quick clay, which can change from solid to liquid from. Previous landslides have been reported in the region.
Helicopters continued to circle over the area as night fell (lower) rescuers towards the debris of collapsed houses.
"There could be people trapped ... but at the same time we can't be sureit is the new year's holiday, which means people could be elsewhere," Ema Solberg, the Norwegian Prime Minister, told reporters after visiting the site.
