Bergen, Norway's historic Bryggen waterfront area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, could be underwater by the end of the century and frequently flooded before that, a new report warns.
The report, commissioned by Bergen's Urban Environment Agency, warns that “The high frequency of floods in the future requires measures to prevent destruction. Every time there is a strong storm, the water level will rise so much that Bryggen floods. It will happen quite often in the future.”
Bryggen, which means "wharf," is at the center of Bergen's port area and was the site of the Hanseatic League's presence in the city for hundreds of years.
The consultants told the city it will need to invest in both short and long-term measures. For now, temporary plastic dams can limit damage, they said, but in the long term the city will need to consider storm surge barriers to seal off the inner harbor.
Other measures needed for other areas of the city include both flood defenses and jacking up buildings. Estimated costs of flood barriers range from €600 million to €4 billion, while damage up to €2 million could result if nothing is done.
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