“We were sitting having a late breakfast and heard some compact landslides. But that’s normal,” said Monica Fjæra, who didn’t yet grasp what was to come.
“But then it suddenly really took off. There were enormous crashes and rumbling. The house shook so much that we ran out onto the porch. When we gain down to the dock and turn around, we see huge stones coming at us like balls. It was intense.”
“When the smoke cleared, we saw the damage. Luckily, the cabin wasn’t hit. We’ve been very lucky.”
“Are you still shaken up?”
“We adults have calmed down. It’s mostly affecting the children. They found this to be a very frightening and unpleasant experience.”
“We’re going back to the cabin. But the kids are skeptical, so we’ll have to process this a bit first.”
Police received reports of the large landslide in Etne, in the southernmost part of the Vestland county, at 10:44 a.m. On Sunday.
Large boulders are covering both lanes of E134 Haukelivegen, and the road will be closed for an extended period.
Sought Shelter in Tunnel
Operations Leader Dag Steinkopf of the Southwest Police District characterized the situation as dramatic.
“The road is blocked, and people who were nearby have sought shelter in a tunnel nearby,” Steinkopf reported.
Even though buildings have been damaged, there are currently no reports of missing persons or injuries. Emergency services are now on the scene to get a full overview of the extent of the damage.
Road Administration: “This Will Take Time”
The Road Traffic Central is clear that motorists must find alternative routes. The stones in the roadway are large, and before the clearing can start, the mountainside must be secured.
“This will take time,” said the on-duty representative at the Road Traffic Central to Hardanger Folkeblad.
Update: Detour is via National Road 13.
The area around Fjæra and Åkrafjorden is known for steep mountainsides and has historically been exposed to both landslides and rockfalls, especially during periods of heavy rainfall or fluctuating temperatures that lead to frost heave.
Photo: Statens vegvesen
Detour and Traffic Consequences
E134 over Haukelifjell is one of the most critical routes between eastern and western Norway. With the road now closed near Fjæra, it has significant consequences for both heavy transport and passenger traffic.
The area around Fjæra and Åkrafjorden is known for steep mountainsides and has historically been exposed to both landslides and rockfalls, especially during periods of heavy rainfall or fluctuating temperatures that lead to frost heave. The closure underscores the challenges of maintaining transportation infrastructure in mountainous regions.
The Norwegian Road Administration has been working on landslide protection in the area for several years, but today’s event shows that the forces of nature still pose a risk along this important European highway.
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