Kirkenes Hospital enters red alert following water main break

Kirkenes Hospital has entered a red alert status and canceled all planned operations and outpatient appointments following a major water main break in Sør-Varanger. The hospital is prioritizing inpatient care and emergency patients, while acute patients in East Finnmark are being redirected to other facilities, such as Hammerfest Hospital.

Sør-Varanger municipality has issued a crisis management directive for residents in Kirkenes and surrounding areas to cease all private water consumption. Officials warned that without these restrictions, the local water reservoir could run dry as early as 17:30, potentially leaving critical health institutions like the Prestøy nursing home and Kirkenes Medical Center without water.

Repair parts are being flown in from Sweden, with work expected to begin once they arrive. To maintain fire safety and emergency readiness, the municipality has increased water tanker staffing and coordinated with Avinor for the use of reserve fire vehicles from the airport.