On Monday, the news was dominated by severe weather, landslides, and closed roads in Western Norway.
Both Odda and Eidfjord were isolated due to multiple landslides in the area overnight into Monday and the following morning, and TV profile Leif Einar “Lothepus” Lothe (55) was among those who narrowly escaped when he was out driving.
Also read: “Lothepus” just escaped: – Then it went off
A few hours further north in the country, in Balestrand in Sogndal, artist Kjartan Lauritzen’s (29) travel plans were abruptly canceled.
– Landslide risk on all roads
Kjartan Lauritzen, whose real name is Per Áki Sigurdsson Kvikne, was supposed to go to Oslo for a press event on Monday.
He is one of the artists participating in the upcoming season of “Hver gang vi møtes,” which premieres in 2025.
Also read: These are the new “Hver gang vi møtes” artists
When Nettavisen arranged a digital interview with Kvikne on Tuesday afternoon, he explained that he did not want to risk getting caught in a landslide for a short day trip to Oslo, and therefore felt compelled to stay in Balestrand and skip the event.
STAYED HOME: Per Áki Sigurdsson Kvikne, known as Kjartan Lauritzen, could not make it to Oslo on Monday.
Photo: Synne Sofi Bårdsdatter Bønes
– I live by the fjord and mountains, and yesterday there was a landslide risk on all roads out, says the 29-year-old.
– There had been several landslides on the roads in here, and I was going to drive one of the most landslide-prone stretches. So I thought, you know what, I’m not going to drive an hour and a half risking landslides for a short trip to Oslo. So that’s how it turned out, the artist adds.
On Tuesday, things seem to have calmed down.
– Now it’s nice here. It even looks like the sun is coming out soon. It’s been many days since last time, laughs Kvikne.
Close friends
On his team in “Hver gang vi møtes”, he has Astrid Smeplass (28), Carola Häggkvist (58), Ina Wroldsen (40), Stein Torleif Bjella (56), Thomas Dybdahl (45), and Jonas Benyoub (30) – and Kvikne shares that they have all become good friends during their stay.
Also read: What has Ina Wroldsen done to Carola?
STAR CAST: These seven artists participate in season 15 of TV 2’s success “Hver gang vi møtes.”
Photo: TV 2
What Kvikne found saddest about being stranded was that he couldn’t meet them all again at the press event.
– I really wanted to meet all of them again. So it was very sad. But we can do it again; I can invite them all to Balestrand Hotel for a reunion later, he smiles.