A large quick clay landslide has swept away large parts of the E6 north of Gothenburg in Sweden. An area several hundred meters in diameter is affected.
Drone image over E6 north of Gothenburg. Photo: Mikael Berglund
Sea view
Published: 23/09/2023 07:35
Updated: 23/09/2023 10:58
The case is updated.
The emergency services were notified of the incident at Stenungsund at 1.45am on Saturday. Large amounts of rain must have led to the landslide. Ambulances and other emergency services are on the scene.
– Three people have been taken to hospital, says police spokesman August Brandt on Saturday morning.
The three are said to be slightly injured.
– An area of approximately 500 meters in diameter is affected. We are working full time on site and have both drones and helicopters to get a clear picture of the situation, says Brandt.
Several cars and a bus ended up in the cracks after the road was torn apart by the landslide. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT / NTB
Sea view
– It’s just chaos
Freelance journalist Mikael Berglund is on the scene.
– I arrived at the same time as the rescue service, and there is a big hole all over the E6. With a little lighting, we see the vehicles lying down in the hole. It’s hard to describe in words, it’s just chaos, he adds Swedens radio.
The E6 is closed both northbound and southbound. In addition, a side road is affected. An unknown number of cars and a bus have ended up in the cracks and holes that have arisen.
Rescue personnel and dogs are searching for people in the area. There are currently no indications that anyone has been taken.
A lorry driver who parked overnight in the affected industrial area says he woke up to his car shaking.
– I saw trees fall and the ground seemed to just slide away. The hamburger restaurant is completely destroyed, the house has probably moved five metres, he adds Today’s News.
The emergency services are on the scene.
1 of 4 Photo: Mikael Berglund
Expert: – Not a sinkhole
Geotechnician and head of department at Norway’s Geotechnical Institute, Håkon Heyerdahl, says it is a major quick clay landslide. In the morning hours, the landslide was referred to as a sinkhole in many media.
– This is not a sinkhole. There is an area of several hundred meters in all directions that has moved. It’s a really big quick clay landslide, he says to Aftenposten.
Håkon Heyerdahl
Geotechnician at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
Heyerdahl points out that landslides have previously occurred along the E6 and in the Gothenburg area.
– This is an area where we know there is a lot of quick clay, he says.
– How common are such landslides?
– Fortunately, it is not that common, but it can have very serious consequences.
– Is this connected to climate change?
– It is too early to say. It may appear that the problem is a lack of security, says Heyerdahl.
Does not rule out more landslides
According to The evening paper the hole at 3 o’clock was estimated to be up to 250 meters in diameter. There may also have been landslides elsewhere on the road section.
The municipal management in Stenungsund is gathered for a crisis meeting on Saturday morning.
The rescue service does not rule out more landslides. People are asked to stay away from the area.
What caused the collapse is still unclear. But the police have launched an investigation into what they suspect may be “gross destruction”. There must be a construction site near the race area. No one is currently a suspect, writes SVT.
2023-09-23 08:03:45
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