The 2020 Gjerdrum landslide was a quick clay landslide that occurred in the early hours of 30 December 2020 at Ask village, the administrative centre of Gjerdrum, Norway. It spanned a flow off area of and additionally affected by debris flow. Several buildings were destroyed, most of them houses and apartment buildings.
As of 22 March 2021, ten people had been confirmed killed by the landslide.
In 2022, the police charged Gjerdrum Municipality.https://www.nrk.no/osloogviken/gjerdrum-kommune-siktet-etter-leirskred_-varsler-stotter-politiet-1.15839664. NRKDet sentrale varselet i Gjerdrum: Ba kommunen om hjelp til å sette inn tiltak [The central warning in Gjerdrum: Asked the municipality about help to have measures put in place]. Verdens Gang. Retrieved 3 February 2022 The causes of the landslide [... had by 2022 been] investigated by police; another investigation, tasked with finding – prior to August 2021 – the causes of the landslide, will be performed by a group of experts.
Background There have previously been landslides in Gjerdrum municipality. During the night between 20 and 21 October 1924, a landslide destroyed several farms and damaged 1600 metres of road. In 1973 there was a landslide at Ask.Bjørn (65) i skred-drama i Gjerdrum for 40 år siden: − Rygget så fort jeg maktet tr. Bjørn (65) in avalanche drama in Gjerdrum 40 years ago: – Backed as fast as I could www.vg.no, accessed 10 January 2021 A 1980 landslide was near the south end of the 2020 landslide."Det mindre skredet i 1980 gikk nær sørenden av dagens rasområde, ifølge entreprenøren" tr. The minor landslide in 1980 went near the southern end of today's landslide area, according to the contractor www.vg.no In 2014, a landslide destroyed two houses.Ordførerens barndomshjem tatt av skred i 2012 (tr. The mayor's childhood home taken by landslides in 2012) "Aller først raste et industribygg som lå nedenfor huset til Østensen. Bygget som huset et gulvbeleggfirma ble fullstendig jevnet med jorden søndag 20. mai. Etter noen dager raste også huset til Østensen som lå på toppen av kollen som raste ut. – Deler av huset raste ut og resten ble senere revet, sier han. [...] – Fant man årsaken til raset i 2012? – Det hadde blitt utført gravearbeid i forbindelse med utbygging av et industribygg. Gravingen skal ha eksponert en kvikkleireforekomst som skal ha utløst raset, sier han." (tr. "First of all, an industrial building that lay below Østensen's house collapsed. The building that housed a flooring company was completely leveled on Sunday 20 May. After a few days, Østensen's house, which was on top of the hill that collapsed, also collapsed. – Parts of the house slipped out and the rest was later demolished, he says. [...] – Was the cause of the landslide found in 2012? – Excavation work had been carried out in connection with the development of an industrial building. The excavation must have exposed a quick clay deposit that triggered the landslide, he says. ") www.vg.no, accessed 6 January 2021
In July 2008, an article published in Romerikes Blad stated that hydrologist and geologist Steinar Myrabø had warned the municipality of soil erosion and the potential risk of a landslide, calling for a halt in construction at Nystulia on behalf of Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature's local chapter."Myrabø, som i kraft av sin profesjon som hydrogeolog og hydrolog er ekspert på området, varslet den gang Gjerdrum kommune, og Romerikes Blad skrev om saken i juli samme år. «Jorda renner bort og han er bekymret for skred», het det i vår reportasje for 12 og et halvt år siden. Myrabø krevde på vegne av foreningen stans i arbeidene og det ble fremmet forslag til tiltak i Nystulia, ifølge Myrabø til liten eller ingen nytte." (tr. "Myrabø, who by virtue of his profession as a hydrogeologist and hydrologist is an expert in the field, then notified Gjerdrum municipality, and Romerikes Blad wrote about the case in July the same year. "The earth is running away and he is worried about landslides," it was said in the report 12 and a half years ago. On behalf of the association, Myrabø demanded a halt to the work and proposals were made for measures in Nystulia, according to Myrabø to little or no effect.") www.nettavisen.no (subscription required) In November 2020 a hiking path was constructed 150 m westwards of the later slide area. The photos of heavy machinery initiated public concern. But the path and the slide area are separated by two small ridges and the Fjelstadbekken stream.
According to the broadcaster NRK, intense rain in the days before the incident may have caused soil movements in the area. The Nannestad municipality next to Gjerdrum evacuated a hamlet on 15 December 2020 after a small landslide nearby.
Search and recovery operations The first reports of the landslide were made at 3:51am on 30 December 2020. 10 people were injured, with 26 initially reported missing, though it was later determined that the actual number of missing persons was 10.Norway landslide: Houses buried in Gjerdrum village near Oslo 31 December 2020 www.bbc.com accessed 2 January 2021
On New Year's Day, assistance from Sweden was requested; a 14-person Urban Search and Rescue team from Sweden worked onsite, and was released the same evening after the arrival of additional Norwegian rescue personnel.
By 1 January 2021 details of the ten people missing were published by police. The same day, the first casualty was reported. Early on 2 January, the body of a second victim was found, and later that day two more people were found dead.Norway landslide: Second body found as rescuers search Gjerdrum site www.bbc.com accessed 2 January 2021 On 3 January, three more people were found dead, bringing the death toll to seven. Three people still remained missing, with searches continuing.
On 5 January 2021 the Norwegian authorities stated they no longer held out any hope of finding further survivors. At that time, three people were still missing.
A video released by the police on 6 January shows a rescue helicopter over the landslide, searching for survivors. The video is recorded by a police helicopter, and from the communications one can hear how they are trying to guide the rescue helicopter to the potential survivors' location.Den første videoen fra Gjerdrum-skredet tr. The first video from the Gjerdrum landslide 6 January 2021 www.youtube.com, accessed 10 January 2021
Victims The names of the victims were made public on 1 January, with the permission of their families.NRK: Dette er de savnede og omkomne (tr. "These are the missing and dead"), accessed 4 January 2021 Name Age Found Eirik Grønolen 31 1 Jan Lisbeth Neraas 54 2 Jan Marius Brustad 29 3 Jan Bjørn-Ivar Grymyr Jansen 40 2 Jan Charlot Grymyr Jansen 31 3 Jan Alma Grymyr Jansen 2 2 Jan Irene Ruud Gundersen 69 3 Jan Ann-Mari Olsen-Næristorp 50 12 Feb Victoria Emilie Næristorp-Sørengen 13 12 Feb Rasa Lasinskiene 49 22 Mar
Search for presumed dead On 5 January the police stated that they no longer held out any hope of finding more survivors, but would continue the search for the last three victims.
The same day the Norwegian Armed Forces and their equipment left the area, with only the Home Guard left on the scene till 12 JanuaryMissing people presumed dead after Norway landslide, police chief says 6 January 2021 www.reuters.com, accessed 10 January 2021HV: – Kommunen bestemmer behovet (tr. HV: – The municipality decides the need) 7 January 2021 forsvaretsforum.no, accessed 10 January 2021Neste gang HV-soldatene møtes, håper de at det er på øvelse. I mars 2020 støttet de politiet på Gardermoen. Nå har HV-soldatene stått vakt i Gjerdrum (tr. The next time the HV soldiers meet, they hope it's a rehearsal. In March 2020, they supported the police at Gardermoen. Now the HV soldiers have been on duty in Gjerdrum") 14 January 2021, accessed 11 April 2021
The Norwegian Civil Defence terminated their mission on 15 January and a civilian security company continued to guard the affected areas.Sivilforsvaret trekker seg ut fra Gjerdrum (tr. "The Civil Defense withdraws from Gjerdrum") 15 January 2021 www.nationen.no, accessed 11 April 2021
After a two weeks break the search for the remaining missing victims continued from 18 January.Været skaper trøbbel for letearbeidene (tr. "The weather is causing trouble for the exploration work") 18 January 2021 www.nrk.no, accessed 11 April 2021
On 9 February 2021 two bodies were located by search teams searching for the three remaining missing victims.Nye omkomne etter skredet i Gjerdrum: – Funnet på to meters dyp (tr. "New dead after the landslide in Gjerdrum: – Found at a depth of two meters ") 9 February 2021, www.nrk.no, accessed 11 April 2021
On 22 March the last missing person was found.En tiende person funnet død i skredgropen i Gjerdrum: − Et trist kapittel kan lukkes (tr. "A tenth person found dead in the avalanche pit in Gjerdrum: – A sad chapter can be closed") 22 March 2021 www.vg.no, accessed 11 April 2021
Mobilized resources Several government and private organizations, military units and volunteer organizations were involved in the search and recovery operation:
Emergency Services Upper Romerrike fire and rescue – Initial responding force. Later relieved by other agencies. Lower Romerrike fire and rescue – Close partners with Upper Romerrike fire and rescue. Responded with mutual aid to the landslide area. Oslo Fire and Rescue service – Initial USAR crews, accompanied by emergency medical services and Police. Trøndelag Fire and Rescue service – Secondary USAR forces. Relieved the Swedish USAR squad on arrival. Bergen Fire and Rescue service – Secondary USAR forces.
Government agencies Norwegian Civil Defence – Shelters for HQ and SAR organization, logistics, vehicles and establishing temporary water and sewage lines in the affected areas. Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate – Ground and avalanche analysis, professional advice to the police Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency – USAR team
Private organizations Norwegian Geotechnical Institute – Geology expertise. Multiconsult – Ground and avalanche analysing. Andøya Space – Aerea surveillance and production of dronedata to rescue coordinators.170 flyvninger. 70 timer i lufta og 24000 bilder (tr. "170 flights. 70 hours in the air and 24,000 photos") 18 January 2021 www.uasnorway.no, accessed 11 April 2021
Volunteer organizations Regional Red Cross units – Evacuation of residents, volunteer ambulances and organizing of evacuation centers. Norwegian People's Aid – Volunteer ambulances, evacuation of a nursing home, vehicles, organizing of evacuation centers. Norwegian Rescue Dog Association – 28 K9 units on standby. Norwegian Radio Relay League – Organizing of signals and communication.
Norwegian armed forces Engineer battalion – Leguan bridge layer, ground strengthening system and support for SAR crews in the disaster area. Norwegian Home Guard – Guarding of the disaster perimeter. Special Operations Commando – Drone search and organizing of airspace. 330 Squadron – Rescue helicopters (Sea King and SAR Queen). 333 Squadron – P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft, initial search of disaster area. 339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron – Two Bell 412 helicopters, search and rescue and personnel transport. Intelligence Battalion – Image analysing of drone photos.
Aftermath The Nannestad and Gjerdrum Red Cross received large amounts of donations of toys, clothing, and hygiene products for the survivors of the landslide.
Following the disaster, several news outlets revealed that the affected area had been designated as a high-risk area for landslides as early as 2005 and that it was scheduled for a new evaluation in 2021 due to the increased amount of housing and construction projects in the area.