Train derailment in Hemnes municipality results in tragic death of train driver Rolf Henry Ankersen

On Thursday afternoon, a train derailment occurred between Bjerka and Finneidfjord in Hemnes municipality, resulting in the tragic death of 60-year-old train driver Rolf Henry Ankersen. This is not the first landslide incident on the route between Mo and Bjerka.

Historically, the area has seen several significant landslides: in June 1996, a major incident swept away four people, a million cubic meters of earth, two homes, and 300 meters of the E6 highway into Finneidfjord, with one person never found. Another landslide impacted the Nordlandsbanen rail line in May 2014, though the cause remains unclear. In October 2016, two individuals were injured when a train derailed after hitting a rock block on the same stretch.

The recent landslide was caused by soil and rock collapsing from the slope adjacent to the tracks. Following the 2016 incident, the Norwegian Transportation Accident Investigation Board noted that the area had been inspected and stabilized by Bane Nor, with further assessments scheduled for 2023. They suggested that heavy rainfall might have triggered that landslide and urged for improved monitoring routines to ensure slope stability amid changing weather patterns.

In light of ongoing weather-related hazards, reports from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) indicated that several areas in Hemnes are highly vulnerable to landslides. Current assessments suggest that nine homes face a greater than 1% annual risk of being affected by landslides, while 23 homes have a 0.1% risk.

Bane Nor’s management acknowledged the recurring risks in the region, emphasizing the need for continual assessment and enhancements in landslide safety measures, as well as ongoing development of their weather preparedness system. An official investigation is underway to understand the circumstances surrounding the latest incident fully.