A railway bridge collapsed in Norway due to heavy rainfall

A railway bridge, located in the southeastern part of Norway, collapsed on Monday due to heavy rainfall. Constructed in 1957, the bridge, which crossed the Laagen River, measures 172.5 meters in length and consists of three spans and it is directly founded on the riverbed. The central segment of the steel truss bridge slid into the water due to damage to the central foundation.

The collapse was confirmed by authorities, specifically Bane NOR, the governmental entity responsible for overseeing the country's rail infrastructure. In response to concerns over its structural capacity due to the increased water volume, all traffic on the bridge had been suspended a week ago. Furthermore, Bane NOR had just initiated an examination of the bridge's damage on Monday morning when the central portion unexpectedly gave way and fell into the river, as stated in an official communication from the agency.

Eivind Bjurstrøm, a representative from Bane NOR, emphasized that the collapse of the bridge did not pose any risk to human life or well-being, a fact for which he expressed relief. The excessive rain resulted in the evacuation of numerous people in southeastern Norway. The region witnessed an unusual deluge of water, carrying with it fragments of trees, debris, and waste, following days of continuous heavy rainfall.

It should be mentioned that a storm named Hans impacted northern Europe, leading to widespread disruptions in transportation, flooding, and power outages across the Nordic and Baltic areas. The storm was responsible for the loss of at least three lives. Further calamities included the collapse of a hydroelectric river dam in southeastern Norway due to the force of the water, and a train derailment in neighboring Sweden caused by the flooding-induced collapse of a railway embankment.