On Friday, a tower crane overturned the Melhustorget shopping center in Trøndelag.
One person has died and two have received minor injuries following the incident. No one was in the crane when it overturned.
The shopping center has suffered extensive material damage. The police report that there is a strong wind at the site.
– Didn’t know what it was
Anne Berit Rønning has worked at the shopping center for 23 years. It was a little past nine when she experienced the shock.
– I was standing with a customer when there was an unprecedented crash. I didn’t understand what it was. I’ve never heard anything like that before, says a clearly affected Rønning to TV 2.
– The whole center shook, she adds.
They then ran out of the mall.
Hear Rønning tell about the dramatic minutes:
– I have never come across anything like that before. It was just as if the roof and walls were moving.
Only when she got outside did she realize what had caused the crash.
– When I came out, I saw on my left that there was a crane leaning over the building, says Rønning, who is still shaking when TV 2 talks to her.
– Must be supportive
Melhus mayor Jorid Jagtøien says that they have had a meeting with the crisis management in the municipality, and that a crisis team has been set up for those who were in the shopping center during the crane overturn.
TV 2 spoke to her before it became known that one person has died as a result of the crane overturning.
– Fortunately, you could say, this is happening at a time when there was not a lot of traffic in the shopping centre, but we know that many people have their morning coffee there. And then there are side roads with a lot of traffic in the morning. It is serious.
– There are many people who cannot return to their jobs immediately, and who face an uncertain time ahead. There is a lot going on going forward. We must contribute in the areas we can as a municipality, and be supportive.
SHOCK: Mayor of Melhus municipality, Jorid Jagtøien, in conversation with Anne Berit Rønning. Photo: Heidi Venæs/TV 2
– Terrible
Project manager John Olaf Solstad of the contractor Hent, which is in the process of building the new Melhustorget, told TV 2 that a 50-metre-high construction crane has reached into the building.
The incident leader says that they cannot yet say anything about whether the crane was secured well enough in view of the strong wind in the area.
– It is absolutely terrible to receive that message, he said and added that it is the first time he has heard that a crane has fallen over.
