Norway: Massive fire destroys more than 100 homes in the city of Drammen

In the city of Drammen, roughly 50 kilometres west of Oslo, fire has destroyed more than 100 homes after breaking out on Friday afternoon in a residential district of Krokstadelva, part of a city with a population of over 80,000.

"My daughter called me and said three houses below her flat were on fire. My son and I got there almost immediately," said local resident Finn Rione. According to her, the flames spread with terrifying speed: "We watched the fire swallow one house after another. Then we saw my daughter's house — it had burned to the ground. The fire still hasn't been put out there."

Witnesses say strong winds fuelled the fire's rapid spread, carrying it from the built-up area into a nearby forest. Six helicopters were brought in to help fight the blaze, but had to be pulled out after 11pm once darkness fell.

Remarkably, there were almost no serious casualties: two people needed treatment for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter sustained a minor injury.

Local authorities expect firefighters to bring the blaze fully under control sometime on Saturday.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre offered his condolences to those affected: "I extend my deepest sympathy to everyone who has been evacuated and everyone who has lost their home. My thoughts are also with the firefighters, rescuers and volunteers currently engaged in extremely difficult work to put out the fire and do everything possible to stop it from spreading further."

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz