The major flood in Luster on hold – Aftenbladet.no

Below the glacier, Hydro dam drained down with 35,000 cubic meters of water per hour to accept the water quantities.

– We have not received any new messages from there, and then it means that there is currently standing good to. Tension relates now to how much water is coming and when it comes. So we really goes on hold. What we are waiting for is whether cap ruptures, says operations manager Bengt Nes in Sogn og Fjordane police told NTB Friday night.

The police early Friday afternoon crisis staff in anticipation of meltwater flood.

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

No evacuated

The police have not yet evacuated some residents as a result of possible flooding and landslide, but has sent out notice to those who live in Skjolden and upwards Fortunsdalen that it could happen within the next day.

– We have a plan ready with local people if we must evacuate. 150 residents could be affected and 20 houses are at risk. Fortun valley is quite flat, so if it comes a lot of water down on surfaces, it can be a little critical of some far down, says operations manager Bengt Nes.

The police considers efforts need ongoing basis and have contact with local resources Hydro, NVE and the county emergency manager.

Fears rise

NVE states that hatches is as open as they can get become, and that it runs out as much water as possible.

– We manage to keep it stable now, that is what flows into, also runs out. But we expect that the amount of water that flows into will increase, and that is what the challenge is beyond the night, said regional director brigt Samdal in NVE NTB Friday night.

According Samdal it is not often such situations occur, but he says that they had a similar situation in 2010, which went fine. The crews on the spot will be there throughout the night and follow, he informs us.

On Friday night were sent people into the valley to warn hikers and others who reside in the terrain.

Enormous quantities of water

NVE sent Friday approved two felthydrologer to Fortunsdalen. They could determine that jökulhlaup is underway. Hydrologists observed 1 meter lower water levels and high flow out of the glacier.

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 ice, but had greater capacity in 2010.

Although the reservoir is drawn down, it may be completely filled and a flood down into the valley is thus inevitable.

– First, it flushed out some boulders, sand and gravel, but it is mainly water that comes afterwards is the problem, says regional manager brigt Samdal in NVE said. (© NTB)