Avalanche hits Norway's remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago
Source: AP
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — An avalanche smashed into 10 houses Saturday on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, sending eight people to the hospital and leaving several others missing, authorities said.
The avalanche tumbled down about 11 a.m. from Sukkertoppen mountain, which dominates Longyearbyen, the main settlement on Svalbard. Dozens of houses at the foot of Sukkertoppen were protectively evacuated, said Tone Hertzberg, a spokeswoman for the governor of Svalbard.
Three children were in serious condition and five adults were slightly injured by the avalanche, hospital spokeswoman Marit Einejord told The Associated Press.
Hertzberg said "it would be logical" to assume the avalanche was connected to a storm that hit the Svalbard archipelago late Friday. Local daily Svalbardposten said the storm, with winds up to 95 kph (60 mph), was the worst in 30 years.
FULL story at link.
Search and rescue crews work after an avalanche hit several houses in Longyearbyen, Norway, Saturday Dec. 19. 2015. It is unclear about the number of people caught in the avalanche but authorities are calling for volunteers with shovels to help in the search to locate victims. (NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a06d2cdb74d1434e8c35981d5fd3ad3a/avalanche-hits-arctic-norways-remote-svalbard-archipelago
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Avalanche danger is a big thing around here too. There's usually one or two snowmobilers who get caught in one every winter. I hope they find most of the missing alive. Most victims who get buried don't come out alive, though.
