Published by Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Firefighters in the west coast city of Ålesund were trying Thursday morning to cool down fires that continued to burn inside a residential building destroyed by a landslide. Five persons remain trapped inside.

This aerial photo shows how the hill behind the newly built condominium complex gave way. PHOTO: ODD MEHUS/BERGENS TIDENDE

The fires sparked by gas leaks, along with the building’s instability, have blocked rescue workers’ attempts to reach victims.

It’s believed that five residents living on the building’s lower floors were caught under the rubble. The landslide hit just before 4am Wednesday, knocking the building off its foundation and causing the lower floors to collapse.

The neighbourhood around the building on Fjelltunvegen, not far from downtown, also remained evacuated Thursday morning. Fear of explosions from the fires and leaking gas prevented residents from returning to their homes.

Police said it was impossible for emergency workers to enter the building until the gas had burned out. There was less smoke than on Wednesday, and firefighters believed they had control over the burning wreckage.

Fifteen of the building’s 21 residents were rescued after the landslide hit, one resident was said to be away on a trip and five others are believed to have been caught inside and are feared dead.

Speculation over the cause of the landslide continued to rage. One geologist said he’d warned that the hill behind the building, completed just four years ago, could give way.

Others, however, said it had been secured and the building’s developer and contractor claimed all regulations and re-enforcement measures had been followed. City officials had issued building permits after approving plans submitted.

Norway has a long history of land- and rockslides, and many of them have occurred in the western, mountainous area near Ålesund. Some geologists claim that warmer and wetter weather raises the danger of slides.

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African Press International – api