Numerous Damages Due to Storms in Austria

In Styria, a man was trapped and seriously injured by a fallen tree. The 77-year-old was taken to LKH Graz, reported the police. Helpers were also deployed in Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Upper Austria.

Nearly 1,000 firefighters were deployed in Styria alone due to storms

Vasoldsberg. The 67-year-old wife of the 77-year-old Styrian called the emergency services around 7:00 PM because her husband was hit by the tree in their own garden in Vasoldsberg (Graz-Umgebung district). The couple had wanted to secure an awning due to the approaching storm. Suddenly, the tree next to the garden shed snapped and fell on the pensioner. He was severely hit on the back. The Vasoldsberg fire department freed the Styrian. The wife remained uninjured, while her husband was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The rescue helicopter had to return to the base due to the bad weather forecast. In total, nearly 1,000 firefighters were deployed in Styria on Monday evening due to storms and their aftermath, said Thomas Meier, spokesperson for the state fire brigade association, to APA on Tuesday. The most affected was the Graz-Umgebung district as well as parts of Eastern Styria. Around 180 operations were reported and about 100 brigades were alerted.

Storms: Deployments also in Lower Austria and Upper Austria

In Lower Austria, the fire brigades were alerted to 120 operations after storms, shared Klaus Stebal from the state command. More than 50 of these were in the Baden district. After a thunderstorm with hail and strong gusts of wind on late Monday afternoon, helpers had to remove fallen trees and broken branches, secure roofs and objects, perform pumping operations, and clear blockages. There were isolated floods. In total, 23 volunteer fire brigades were deployed. The emergency services were particularly challenged in the greater Ebreichsdorf area, in several villages in the Triesting Valley, and in some southern railway communities. No one was injured, but there was significant property damage to buildings and vehicles, reported the Baden district command in a release. In Upper Austria, 148 fire brigades with 2,200 people handled 170 operations on Monday. From about 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the storm moved from the west over the central area. The alerts involved fallen trees, pumping, and securing operations, with the wind causing the most damage. No one was seriously injured, according to the state fire brigade command.

Deployments due to storms also in Burgenland, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg

In Burgenland, the fire departments also responded to numerous storm-related incidents. The district of Oberwart was particularly affected. Thirteen fire departments had to handle over 50 operations there. Around 200 members worked late into the night to clear storm damage on roofs, remove fallen trees, and combat flooding, reported the district fire command. The work in the Kemeten industrial area was particularly complex. Large amounts of water had accumulated on a flat roof, which the emergency services could no longer access due to compromised structural integrity and the risk of collapse. Therefore, the water was suctioned off using a crane, according to the fire department.

In the city of Salzburg, the fire department had to respond to more than 70 incidents on Monday evening after a thunderstorm with wind, hail, and heavy rain. Roofs were uncovered, and branches were broken from trees, with water entering some buildings. Additionally, the Maxglan cemetery was closed for safety reasons due to storm damage until further notice. To expedite the handling of damage cases, the professional fire department called in additional personnel. They were supported by three volunteer fire department units. Around 25 fire department operations were reported from the city's surrounding area in the early evening.

5.9 Million Euros in Damage from Storms in Agriculture

According to the Austrian Hail Insurance, Upper Austria was particularly affected. The storms also caused agricultural damage in Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vorarlberg in specific areas. "The total damage across all federal states amounts to 5.9 million euros, with 4.8 million euros in Upper Austria alone," said Chairman Kurt Weinberger. Crops such as grains, corn, soybeans, grassland, field vegetables, fruit and wine cultivation, as well as horticulture with damage to greenhouse films, were particularly affected. The assessment of the damage by experts is already underway. Affected farmers can report damages at www.hagel.at.

In Vorarlberg, 19 people had to be rescued from a gondola on the Dornbirn local mountain Karren on Monday because a strong gust of wind had torn the carrying and traction cable from the rollers. The rescue was challenging, with the first passenger being lowered at around 7:15 PM. The recovery of all passengers was not completed until 10:30 PM. According to a city spokesperson, there were no injuries.

(APA/Red)

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