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Shortly after 1300 hrs on wednesday March 5,rn1986, a snow avalanche released from Storebalak, arnmountain located at Vassdalen in Nordland county.rnThe avalanche struck 31 men from the North Norway Brigade while they were moving snowmobilesrnalong a stream valley on the north side of Storebalak. Thirty men (3 sergeants and 27 soldiers) originated from Platoon 2, Engineer Company, and onernsoldier had been borrowed from Infantry Battalionrn3. All of the men were swept along by the avalanche,rnand to a greater or lesser extent, buried in the snowrnmass. A total of 16 of the 31 men were killed in thernaccident, and there were 15 survivors.rnThe accident took place in association with thernNato winter exercise, Anchor Express. According tornthe battle plan, Brigade North was to advance northward along the highway E6 from the Bjerkvik arearnnear Narvik. One battalion, Infantry Battalion 3 wasrnto carry out a flank operation through the valleysrnVassdalen, Bukkedalen and Rauddalen to Bonnes,rnin order to come behind the enemy and cut off the E6rnat Salangsdalen.rnThe opening of a snowmobile track through thernabovementioned valleys as early as possible, was essential to carrying out this operation. Platoon 2, fromrnthe Engineer Company, Brigade North, was in thernprocess of preparing this track when the accident tookrnplace.