Massive Fire in Drammen, Norway Destroys Over 100 Homes, Forces Evacuations

Smoke rises over terraced houses on fire in the Krokstadelva village in Drammen, Norway. At least 100 homes were destroyed and hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate after a massive fire swept through the southern Norwegian city of Drammen, authorities said on Saturday. This blaze in a region located about 34 km southwest of the capital Oslo, is the largest in the country's history as per authorities. Video circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the homes with billowing smoke. The blaze broke out in a townhouse at around 3.30 pm local time on Friday before rapidly spreading to neighboring homes and nearby forested areas. Firefighters continued working through Saturday to bring the fire under control. More than 80 firefighters have been working to put out the fire, while helicopters were deployed to douse the flames with water. Finn Roine, a resident of Drammen, told Sky News, "I got a call from my daughter saying that three apartment blocks below her were on fire. A few minutes later, my son and I drove up here to see what was happening. When we got here it looked brighter because the fire was lower down, but it spread incredibly fast. Then we saw the flames take one row of houses after another. Then I saw my daughter's house. It has burned down now, and it's still burning. There are still flames there," he added. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection described the incident as the largest residential fire in the country's modern history. According to public broadcaster NRK, hundreds of people sought shelter at an evacuation centre as emergency services battled the blaze. Police said no residents have been reported missing. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.