KVAMSKOGEN (Dagbladet): – Yesterday it was a terrible weather. I do not think I have experienced worse. There was a stiff gale and the rain and everything flew. It’s rare it’s that bad.
Venche Thorsvik tells Dagbladet on Monday afternoon, right next to the place where three people on Sunday night tried to cross Langvotnevatnet on Kvamskogen in a rowing boat.
The stretch is not long, and it is only a matter of a few meters before you cross to the other side. But large amounts of precipitation have led to high water levels and strong currents in the river Langvotnevatnet empties into, and the three people were dragged down the rapids.
After a few meters, the water flows over a dam and further out into a waterfall of 15 meters. Then the river meanders down the wild and steep landscape, which also has several waterfalls.
THE CROSSING: It is only a matter of a few meters from one side to the other, at the place where many cross the water to and from the cabin field. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
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– Must be very careful
– Absolutely insane
Venche and her husband Hans Thorsvik have had a cabin at Kvamskogen for 40 years. However, due to the strong currents towards the gorge, the couple no longer dare to cross the water near the estuary.
– We have felt that electricity is good. Even when there is less water than there is now. So we stay well inside and do not dare to go here, Hans says and points to the place many people use to cross the river. Across the river at the relevant place there is also a rope attached on both sides.
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– It only takes a few minutes, and the rope goes there. But yesterday it was absolutely insane. It’s a shortcut, and it’s a long way to walk around. It’s absolutely awful, says Venche.
Both were very shocked when they heard what had happened on Sunday night, and are worried that the missing are celebrities in the cottage neighborhood.
– I just thought “oh my god”. Because we know a lot of people up here. This is really disgusting, says Venche.
DEMANDING: – It is demanding terrain to apply in, says task leader Svein Valland Laupsa in the West police district on Monday night. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
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MARKED: Rescue dogs have marked at a place down by Movatnet, a small lake in which the river bottoms out before the water flows further out into the Hardangerfjord. Divers are on their way to this water to investigate. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
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– Still hope
According to the police, there are two men and a woman, as well as a dog, who have now been missing for almost a day. All are resident on Askøy outside Bergen.
– A tragic accident
On Monday, a boat was found below the waterfall where the search for the three missing. The police link the boat to the incident. Objects belonging to the missing have also been found near the boat. The findings were made with the help of drones and crews from the Red Cross’ Alpine rescue group.
