2023-05-23 13:17:55
“Reserves” are to be created in the Kendlergraben through additional protective measures.
Things got serious on Thursday evening last week. “A large set of stones suddenly left the Kendlergraben. Fortunately, the two existing retention basins, which have space for around 800 and 4000 cubic meters of material, were sufficient,” says Gebhard Neumayr, Head of Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV) Pinzgau.
Due to the uncertain situation, however, the authorities decided to temporarily evacuate seven residential properties that were particularly at risk. “The safety of the residents has top priority,” emphasized Pinzgau disaster control officer Manfred Höger.
Local inspection in Thumersbach
It’s Friday morning, the situation is being reassessed, the PN are attending a local inspection in Thumersbach. At the barriers, they are digging as hard as they can to free up the retention area. Incidentally, this has been done for more than 14 days following the extreme pre-wetting of the ground and the persistent rainfall caused repeated landslides. “The slopes are torn, the ditch is very unstable and will probably keep us busy for a long time,” District Governor Bernhard Gratz quickly comes to an initial conclusion.
Bernhard Mayr, who steers representatives of the authorities and the state geologist Gerald Valentin in a fire engine via the Mitterbergweg to the site of the crack, was affected by the evacuation himself as a vulnerable resident, his family stayed with acquaintances. Personally, he worked from Thursday to Friday anyway. “Of course you don’t have a good feeling now, even if the situation has calmed down overnight. We absolutely don’t need a lot of rain in the next few weeks,” says Mayr.
The Kendlergraben has been observed regularly since 2019
The state geology has been observing the Kendlergraben for a long time. Since 2019, the site has been recorded there. “After the rain stopped, the slope movements slowed down once more. At the moment there is no immediate danger for the residents,” said state geologist Gerald Valentin later on Friday. The evacuations had already been lifted by that time.
At the beginning of the week, the valley road in Thumersbach, which had been closed in the meantime, was released once more. With regard to further immediate protective measures, talks are being held with the affected landowners, according to WLV manager Gebhard Neumayr. “It’s regarding creating additional reserves – for more material that might possibly be mobilized. The thunderstorm season is only really beginning.”
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