Norwegian military forces initiated a large-scale exploration operation in the Ă˜sterdalen region on October 2nd, 2025, after ten soldiers failed to return from a planned exercise. The operation commenced throughout the afternoon of October 2nd, with the exact timing of the soldiers' disappearance not yet specified. The Norwegian Armed Forces confirmed the search and rescue effort in a statement released this afternoon. The missing soldiers were part of a unit conducting a routine exercise in the challenging terrain of Ă˜sterdalen. According to a spokesperson for the Norwegian Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Ole Hansen, the alarm was raised when the soldiers did not report back at their scheduled time. "We are deploying all available resources to locate our missing personnel," Hansen stated in a press conference held at 4:00 PM UTC. Search teams, including specialized units trained for mountainous and remote environments, have been deployed to the area. The exact location within Ă˜sterdalen where the soldiers were operating is currently being narrowed down by military intelligence. Weather conditions in the region are being monitored closely, as they could impact search efforts. Further details regarding the nature of the exercise or the specific unit involved have not been released at this time. The military has urged the public to avoid the Ă˜sterdalen area to allow search teams unimpeded access. Updates are expected as the exploration operation continues.
