Landslide consumes apartment building
Published: March 26, 2008 at 7:00 AM
ALESUND , Norway, March 26 (UPI) -- Five people were missing after landslides smashed into a residential complex in Alesund, Norway, tearing one building off its foundation, officials said.
Rescue crews were prevented from entering the building because it was unstable after the first landslide crashed into the complex and moved it, Aftenposten reported. Several floors in the building collapsed, causing gas lines to rupture, sparking several fires.
A second landslide crashed into the rubble, prompting officials to evacuate the area.
Police said 15 people were rescued from the building and at least five were unaccounted for.
Firefighters, police, ambulance crews, helicopters and specially trained dogs were at the scene to search for the missing, the newspaper reported.
One person described the scene as "incomprehensible," telling Norwegian Broadcasting it appeared the building was moved about 18 feet and parts of the first two floors were reduced to nothing.
Rescue crews were prevented from entering the building because it was unstable after the first landslide crashed into the complex and moved it, Aftenposten reported. Several floors in the building collapsed, causing gas lines to rupture, sparking several fires.
A second landslide crashed into the rubble, prompting officials to evacuate the area.
Police said 15 people were rescued from the building and at least five were unaccounted for.
Firefighters, police, ambulance crews, helicopters and specially trained dogs were at the scene to search for the missing, the newspaper reported.
One person described the scene as "incomprehensible," telling Norwegian Broadcasting it appeared the building was moved about 18 feet and parts of the first two floors were reduced to nothing.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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