An overnight blaze in a small town in western Norway destroyed at least 23 buildings, while 52 people were in hospital for treatment, mainly for smoke inhalation, dpa quoted police and local authorities as saying Sunday. Police evacuated several hundred people from the centre of Laerdal, including a section known for its wooden houses, part of Norway's cultural heritage. There were, however, no reports of serious injuries or missing people. A helicopter used to combat forest fires has been commissioned to help tackle the blaze, along with two military helicopters. About 100 firefighters were deployed.
