A month after the landslide in Stenungsund, there are still no answers about the cause of the event.
But in the high-risk municipality of Lilla Edet, they have started long-term work to reduce the risks – and started digging to prevent landslides.
– This is something we’ve been waiting for, says head of community development Karin Holmström.
That the mud in Göta Älvdalen can be treacherous has been shown over the years. And after years of having the reddest points on the landslide risk maps, the municipality of Lilla Edet has now been able to start practical measures to reduce the risks.
For a few weeks now, an excavator has been working in an area of 1,500 square meters next to the river in the northern part of the community, from where 2,000 cubic meters of mass is to be removed.
– The area will become safer. There is a risk otherwise that there would have been a first landslide down by the river, and that there would have been a second landslide up in the building, says Karin Holmström.
The bill: five million
The effort is expected to cost around five million kroner. A bill that the state pays through the organization Delegation Göta älv, which coordinates climate adaptation measures in the vulnerable area. Although the project was planned for several years, the incident in the neighboring municipality of Stenungsund a month ago was a clear reminder of the risks.
– I think it’s scary because it’s so close, says Lilla Edet resident Caroline Poikolainen.
– It is very important in case something happens. You never know, she continues.
The cause still unclear
In Stenungsund, the affected area at E6 is still cordoned off, one month after the incident. The cause of the landslide is still unclear and is being investigated, among other things, by the Accident Commission. This is to, if possible, learn from what happened.
In Lilla Edet, the project started must be followed by many more. So far, at least another 30 areas with the same needs have been identified.
– We take those that have the highest priority, which relate to buildings. Then we take what is arable land afterwards. Anything you get done is better than nothing, says Karin Holmström.
– It will take several years before we are finished with landslide protection in the municipality.