Tag Archives: Atle Brekken

January 18, 2016   Svalbard   No comments

Is someone to blame? Little action taken despite more than 20 years of avalanche risk warnings; many asking why

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The catastrophe occurred within seconds. But there was at least 23 years to heed warnings and take actions that might have prevented it.

As the immediate shock and living rearrangements from the Dec. 19 avalanche pass, local leaders and others are asking if someone is to blame. A series of reports since 1992 has highlighted settled areas of Longyearbyen that are at risk of avalanches – including Sukkertoppen, where December’s deadly slide occurred.

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