QUEUE AT THE THIRTEENTH HOUR: Around ten vehicles have started the current week in a queue. And there they have remained. Photo: Tommy Sundby
In Hammerfest, some had to be extra patient on Monday. Some have been queuing for over 13 hours, as a result of an avalanche nearby. Just before they were to be evacuated, however, another landslide occurred which prevented the plans.
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– The situation here is that we have eight cars and two wagon trains, which are in an avalanche queue at Bekkeli in Hammerfest. They have been there since just before 03.00 last night, and now we have to get them out of there soon.
This is what operations manager in the police in Finnmark, Jan Arne Pettersen, told VG at 6pm on Monday evening.
National highway 94 is closed from Kvalsund bridge to Leirvik due to a snow avalanche that has already occurred, and the risk of new ones. A new assessment will be taken tomorrow, Tuesday, at 09:00, informs the Swedish Road Transport Agency.
– Now we are gradually bringing in plow crews who can remove the snow. We have to get the road opened and secured from the Kvalsund side, and our ambition is to unload them safely with the help of column driving, said the operations manager in the 18 drag.
Just before 19.30, VG is on the phone with the mayor of Hammerfest, Terje Rogde (H), and he makes a counter-notice:
– Now there has been another landslide very close by, so the work of the plowing crews was unfortunately of no use. Now we have to get them out in another way.
Are you sitting in the queue? Contact VG on phone 22 00 00 00 or by email [email protected]!
STICKS IN THE WHEELS: Several snow drifts have prevented traffic in Bekkeli in Hammerfest for many hours. Photo: Tommy Sundby
– What if this plan doesn’t work, do they risk sitting in the queue for another night?
– Then the plan is to drive a boat into the shore there, and transport them out by sea. But that is not ideal, because then the vehicles are left on the spot, explained Pettersen from the police earlier on Monday.
The mayor supports that plan. He says that they are now working on an exit via the sea, or to have the road bridged again.
– What is the status of those who have been waiting in line for so long?
– Everything is fine with them, although they are probably a bit bored. There are kind neighbors nearby who have offered food, drink and shelter – so they can warm up a bit, says mayor Rogde.
A car has run out of fuel, and a semi-trailer has had an engine failure.
– We have set up an evacuation center by the church in Kvalsund, so they can get to where they are if the cars are left between the tracks.
The road will not be opened during the night.
Foto: Tommy Sundby
An ambulance on call is among those that have been left stranded on national highway 94.
The ambulance has been there since the night of Monday, according to the report iFinnmark.
Two patients and two ambulance staff had to be evacuated by helicopter on Monday afternoon.
– They have been stuck for so long now, that we found out that it was now time to get them out by helicopter, says rescue manager Tore Hongset in the Northern Norway Central Rescue Center to the newspaper.
Published:
Published: 22.01.24 at 18:52
Updated: 22.01.24 at 21:07
2024-01-22 17:52:16
#cars #avalanche #queue #hours
