At 0430 on the night of Thursday 27 April there was a rockslide at Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden. The rockslide occurred at the blasted cut in the rock behind the PM6 building. The landslide has caused significant damage to the industrial building, but there is no danger to the neighbors on the hill above Saugbrugs, according to Norway’s Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE).
The landslide has probably occurred as a result of weak zones in the mountain which over time have lacked support at the foot of the cut. Even if there is a significant volume of the rock that has collapsed, there is no cause for concern for nearby housing, says natural geographer and senior engineer Jaran Wasrud at NVE in a press release from Halden municipality.
Geologists from NVE and NGI have jointly made an initial assessment based on submitted photos and video material.
– There may still be loose blocks and unstable landslide material on the slope, so further geotechnical and building technical assessments are needed to secure the landslide area and the building, and this will be followed up by the industrial company and their insurance company, says NVE.
Although residents need not be concerned, police are urging people not to move near the landslide area.
Between the exposed mountain slope and the nearest dwellings above the Saugbrugs, there is a wooded area.
In the press release from Halden municipality, it is stated that it is important that residents now stay away from this hiking area for their own safety.
– The police do not consider the area near the crash site to be safe. It is important that everyone respects the barricades that have been put up. No one must enter the area at all, until this has been fully investigated and barriers have been removed, says police superintendent Aleksander Westlund, police contact for Halden and Aremark.
Halden municipality has a dialogue with Norske Skog Saugbrugs about the situation and contributes with the municipality’s resources when needed, they write in the press release.
