Mia Moudilou

Arts & Culture Correspondent

On Saturday, October 4th, Storm Amy swept through Norway, bringing uncontrollable wind and rain. In the small Eastern town of Larvik, locals who have lived in the area for the past 40 years said it was the biggest and most destructive storm in 25 years. Countless trees were torn from the ground, their roots fully exposed and left above the soil. Tore-Kay Landbo, a local resident, noted that trees are usually more bare at this time of year in Larvik. However, due to climate change, the forests were still full of leaves, which intensified the wind’s power. Driving beneath partially fallen power lines and witnessing the sudden gap in the forest—where just a day earlier there had been thick woodland—created an apocalyptic atmosphere in the town. 

The ocean was wild, with significantly rising water levels. Waves reached deep into the town, shattering windows in apartment buildings, splitting the Larvik Sauna near the port in two, and destroying several seaside restaurants that typically draw heavy tourism in the summer.

The morning after, despite the lingering rain, locals in raincoats and boots walked through Larvik, gathering at the port to observe the damage. In a contradictory way, although sorrowful, many seemed awestruck by nature’s power. Conversations quickly turned toward rebuilding, with community members already discussing ways to help clean up the aftermath.

A rainbow appeared in the clouds above the ocean—a symbol of hope in the wake of destruction. That hope, as strong as nature’s force itself, reflected the community’s determination. Humanity, after all, is part of nature’s power—and in Larvik, people are coming together to rebuild what was lost.

Photos by Mia Moudilou of Larvik, Norway.