Why does this Nordic town not allow traditional burials for its dead?

Longyearbyen, the main administrative center of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, is frequently called one of the most northerly inhabited areas in the world. Its geographical position gives rise to peculiar circumstances that apply to all aspects of life, including the case of death of one of its residents.There is a commonly heard statement concerning the fact that dying in Longyearbyen is strictly forbidden by the law. However, there is no such law, which would explicitly prohibit dying in the town. It is just impossible to bury bodies in the traditional way on Svalbard due to frozen soil, while urn burial is permissible.Permafrost in this area is an essential aspect. Burial in the frozen ground is hard, but the problem is not only related to this matter.The official documents of the Norwegian government about the burial grounds at Longyearbyen say that moving of the frost pushes the objects buried there upwards. In other words, that's why burials in coffins are forbidden.There is a hospital in Longyearbyen that can conduct examinations, treatment and minor surgeries. But the problem is that this hospital does not have a variety of services like the hospitals on the Norwegian mainland.The medical services of Svalbard comprise ambulances and air evacuation to mainland Norway when necessary. Fast evacuation, therefore, becomes a critical component of healthcare delivery within the archipelago.The unusual arrangements around death are part of a broader characteristic of life in Longyearbyen.Facilities for long-term care and even home-care are not available the same way they are provided in mainland Norwegian communities. Instead, those who need such care facilities have to seek these services from their home communities.The same principle is what causes serious medical conditions to evacuate to mainland Norway.The climate conditions, permafrost and the poor healthcare infrastructure of Longyearbyen make it quite unique indeed. However, the viral tale states that Norway has adopted a new law which makes it a crime to die in this town, an exaggerated statement that converts practical regulations into a sensational claim.A more realistic explanation is this: coffin burials are forbidden in Longyearbyen due to the fact that permafrost may complicate the burial process and the healthcare facilities of the place are focused on providing emergency care and evacuating patients to Norway.From the perspective of a traveller, this story is more about adaptation to the extreme living conditions of the place, than about strange laws of the land. Even the natural process of dying becomes a challenge in such an Arctic location.