Risk of major floods near Luster – BergensAvisen

A message from the police arrived at around 13:30 hours Friday. The rationale for putting contingency the reported flood.

– It’s longer expecting a so-called jökulhlaup, that large amounts of meltwater from underneath Harbardsbreen were coming but we did not know when. Nowadays however started, says duty hydrologist Knut Ola Aamodt in Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) said.

Vast quantities of water

NVE sent Friday approved two felthydrologer to Fortunsdalen of Luster . Hydro Logen determine that jökulhlaup is underway. They observed a meter lower water levels and high flow out of the glacier. Directorate expects jökulhlaup will go Friday or Saturday.

The amount of water in question is estimated at more than six million cubic meters. Five years ago there was a 5.5 million cubic meters from the glacier.

Hydro accommodates about 3.5 million cubic meters in its water reservoir below the glacier, but had greater capacity in 2010.

water storage reservoir is drained down to take away part of meltwater. However, it is expected that this magazine will be completely filled and that a flood down in the valley is not to avoid.

High alert

It is implemented high alert at the head of Lustrafjorden Sogn og Fjordane due to flooding danger.

– First, it flushed out some boulders, sand and gravel, but it is mainly water that comes afterwards is the problem, says regional manager brigt Sandal in NVE.

He finds himself in Forde monitoring the situation closely with Hydro, municipality and police.

– The water will first flow into one of Hydro’s water reservoirs. When it is full, it flows further down the Fortun Valley towards Skjolden, explains Sandal.

Do not evacuated

The police have not yet evacuated some residents as a result of a possible flooding and landslides from Hardbardsbreen innermost in Lustrafjorden.

– We have not evacuated any area, but will send out a notice to those who live in Skjolden and upwards Fortunsdalen that it could happen within the next day, said operations manager Espen Gulliksen in Sogn og Fjordane police told NTB Friday afternoon.

The police do not know exactly how many people are in danger if the floods come, but it will involve a smaller number of inhabitants.

– We continuously assesses the need for effort and informs us with local resources such as Hydro, NVE and the county emergency manager, he said.

It sent people into the valley to warn hikers and others who reside in the terrain.

Hydro has the capacity to carry away the water the first few hours. Red Cross set provisionally with two men and a quad bike.