Norway Dam Partially Collapses After Heavy Rains and Flooding

A dam at a hydroelectric plant in Norway has partially collapsed following several days of heavy rains, local media reported.

(Bloomberg) — A dam at a hydroelectric plant in Norway has partially collapsed following several days of heavy rains, local media reported.

Scandinavia has been battered in recent days by storm Hans, whose rains submerged a hydroelectric power plant and led to a partial collapse of the dam at Braskereidfoss in eastern Norway.

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Residents in the area have been evacuated and there is no threat to the public, the police officer in charge at the scene told Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.

Hafslund Eco, which operates the power plant, said in a statement that power aggregates went offline early Wednesday morning and that the facility suffered damages as flood gates failed to open automatically.

“Right now the drainage appears to be going well, but we are keeping a close watch on the situation and are considering any necessary measures,“ a spokeswoman for the company told dagbladet.no after the collapse, which occurred in the afternoon.

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