Gjerdrum landslide: Sweden sends crisis team to help Norway with search and rescue efforts

A Swedish crisis team has been sent to Gjerdrum to contribute to the search for missing people in the area, newspaper Aftonbladet reports.

“We will help with the search for missing people and secure buildings,” Stefan Karlsson, head of operations in the rescue service in Greater Gothenburg, told the newspaper.

Gothenburg’s rescue service has already arrived in Norway with one unit, which will assist in the demanding rescue work. 

The unit is a part of the Swedes’ national emergency service.

“It involves specially trained personnel for search and rescue in the event of landslides,” Karlsson said.

Ongoing rescue effort

The rescue crews still don’t know where 21 people are after the landslide in Gjerdrum. After intense hours during the daylight, the work continues in the dark.

According to the police, at least 14 homes are located in the hardest-hit area after the landslide, which is 700 meters long and 10-20 meters wide.

The police think there may be people there, but the rescue crews can only reach the area from the air.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today