Laerdalsoyri, the historic village in Norway known for its wooden structures, was consumed by a fire, Saturday Jan 18 that first broke out in a residence. The flame quickly spread through the village destroying about 30 building and 16 homes, according to several news reports.
Strong winds fanned the flame, sending it blazing throughout the village. Several buildings that have been listed as historic monuments have also been damaged. Several people were evacuated and about 117 were taken to the hospital. While no casualties have yet been reported, two still remain under medical observation, according to ABC News.
The fire broke out Saturday evening. Before firefighters could reach the place, local farmers helped put out the raging flames, reports The Mirror.
"There were a lot of heroes in Laerdal that night. I want to say a big thank you to all those who fought to bring the situation under control," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told Norwegian TV, according to Sky News.
While the blaze has been tamed down and extinguished, officials say that the fire could 'flare up again', reports BBC News. The World News has footage of live destruction. Check it out, here.
About Laerdalsoyri
Old Laerdalsoyri was one of the major ports between east and West Norway. It is just about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northwest of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The village, with a small population of 1153 people, has now largely become a tourist spot for its well preserved wooden structures. Almost all the homes in the town are made of wood.
One of the major attractions of the place is the Borgund Stave Church. The tripe nave stave church is one of Norway's 28 best preserved extant stave churches. Several additions and restorations have been made to keep the wooden structure intact.
Take a virtual tour of Laerdalsoyri in a video below:
