A devastating fire tore through the city of Drammen in southern Norway on Friday, destroying more than 100 homes and prompting a mass evacuation of the surrounding area, according to local police and the country’s national public broadcaster.
Authorities say the fire ignited in a townhouse at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday before rapidly spreading throughout the neighborhood and into adjacent forest areas. Crews were still battling the blaze into Saturday morning in an effort to bring it fully under control.
Norway’s public broadcaster, NRK, reported that hundreds of displaced residents sought shelter at a designated evacuation center set up in response to the emergency.
Police confirmed that no residents have been reported missing. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Drammen is located approximately 34 kilometers — about 21 miles — southwest of the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
