Copenhagen, 9 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Extreme weather-related flooding in southern Norway has led to numerous landslides and the evacuation of hundreds of people.

In the province of Innlandet north of Oslo, 16 landslides, six floods and 12 incidences of damage to nature were reported during the night, the police said on Wednesday.

More than 600 people were brought to safety. No personal injuries have been reported so far. However, the situation remains confusing and chaotic. Many roads have been closed, the police said.

According to the radio station NRK, water entered the power plant at the Braskereidfoss hydroelectric station in the small town of Våler, causing major damage.

Police, in consultation with bomb experts and the military, are reportedly checking whether blasting might be necessary to bring the situation under control.

Elsewhere in the Scandinavian country, emergencies and evacuations were also reported.

Large parts of the village of Nesbyen were under water. In the town of Ringerike, people were to be evacuated from several areas due to flooding of the river Storelva, the head of operations told the newspaper Dagbladet that about 1,000 people were involved.

Hundreds more people were evacuated in other municipalities, according to the NTB news agency. In Hemsedal, a mobile home was caught in the waters and it slammed into a bridge shortly afterwards, destroying it completely.

The storm dubbed Hans had first hit Sweden in the past few days and shortly afterwards also Norway.

On Wednesday, meteorologists warned of further rainfall in parts of southern Norway. The amount of rain expected for the evening is not extreme, but given the conditions in the region, its impact could be significant, the country's meteorological institute estimated.

Hans also caused damage in Sweden and, to a lesser extent, in Denmark.

Photo: EPA