Hundreds of people have been forced to flee the flames following a catastrophic fire that has reduced an entire residential neighborhood to ruins. Experts describe the scale of the disaster as historic, and those affected recount how they lost everything they owned in just a few hours.
One of the largest residential fires in modern Norwegian history has devastated a residential area in Krokstadelva outside Drammen, just southwest of Oslo. More than 100 homes have been destroyed and over 400 people have been evacuated as emergency responders continue to battle the fire, reports The Way of the World.
The fire broke out on Friday afternoon and spread rapidly through the area. According to the fire expert Ruben Dobler Strand The disaster may be unprecedented in modern times.
– We'd probably have to go back more than 100 years before we see anything on the same scale, he says.
Also Ari Soilammi, head of the Norwegian Fire Protection Association, describes the scale as exceptional.
– If the reports that more than 100 homes have been destroyed are accurate, this is one of the largest residential fires in modern Norwegian history, he says.
That's why the fire spread so quickly
According to experts, the steep terrain and strong winds contributed to the fire spreading explosively up the slopes. Within five hours, a three-digit number of homes had burned to the ground.
Among those affected are Polish Miroslaw Piotr Czyz, who lost the home where he had lived for ten years.
– The rest burned down, ", says his son about the family's belongings, Dad has lived in the house for ten years.
Pets Missing After the Disaster
At the same time, many people are searching for pets that escaped the flames. Police incident commander Geir Bodal says:
– The pets are hard to catch. They want to go back to where they belong. So far, they’ve been roaming around outside. Some people have tried to catch them, but there will still be a few left., he says.
