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From /apa, September 15, 2024, 6:36 p.m.
Image: DOKU-N… (APA)
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Zelking-Matzleinsdorf
Image: DOKU-N… (APA)
ST. PÖLTEN. In Lower Austria, “the all-clear” cannot be given after heavy rainfall and the resulting flooding, said Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) on Sunday afternoon following another briefing in Tulln.
Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) promised funds from the disaster fund. “The situation is still precarious,” stressed state fire brigade commander Dietmar Fahrafellner.
Nehammer described the situation in the state, which has been declared a disaster area, as “particularly challenging” and of “unprecedented proportions”. Saving human lives is the highest priority.
Image: (APA/FEDERAL CHANCELLORY/ANDY WENZEL)
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Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (l.), Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (m.) and Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf (r.) (all ÖVP)
Image: (APA/FEDERAL CHANCELLORY/ANDY WENZEL)
The federal government will “do everything to support the country and the communities,” said the Chancellor, who had seen the situation for himself. Nehammer expressed his condolences to the relatives of a firefighter who died during pumping operations in the Tulln district.
Photo gallery: Floods: State of emergency in Lower Austria and Vienna
(Photo: EMMERSDORF FIRE DEPARTMENT) Bild 1/55
View gallery
“Exceptional situation”
Mikl-Leitner spoke of an “exceptional situation” prevailing in the country. The damage caused by flooding is as great as the suffering of the people. At the same time, the Lower Austria security family is functioning and is also receiving support. On Sunday afternoon, forces from Styria and Upper Austria were also deployed. Mikl-Leitner hoped that a reduction in rainfall during the night would bring a “little respite”.
More than 25,000 emergency personnel
There are ongoing rescue operations, said Fahrafellner. The state fire chief did not want to commit to a number for the time being. On Sunday morning, 1,100 evacuated properties were mentioned. Fahrafellner later reported a dam break on the Traisen in St. Pölten as well as on a tributary of the Kamp. Operations were underway. Support was provided by helicopters from the Interior Ministry, the Federal Army and the ÖAMTC’s “Christophorus” fleet, among others. More than 25,000 emergency personnel from Lower Austria “and beyond” were called in.
The state also requested assistance from the Federal Army. Around 1,000 soldiers were available.
“We are dealing with an unprecedented extreme situation,” said Deputy Governor and Operations Manager Stephan Pernkopf (ÖVP) on Sunday morning. It was confirmed in the late afternoon that the Ottenstein reservoir would reach its storage capacity during the course of the day. The flood flaps on the dam were lowered, resulting in a controlled discharge of 130 cubic meters of water per second, according to EVN spokesman Stefan Zach. Increasing the discharge volume to 250 cubic meters per second would be possible on the basis of an official agreement. A few kilometers away, the Kamp River in the district town of Zwettl caused damage to an outdoor pool, ice skating rink and a soccer field. Water entered numerous houses.
Power outages
In St. Pölten, the situation worsened on Sunday: “The flood has the entire city area firmly in its grip. Many streets are impassable. There are also power outages, internet, A1 landline and mobile phone service outages,” the city on the Traisen announced on its website. “Avoid basement areas at all costs – there is a risk to life.” The Alpenbahnhof train station was under water, and Europaplatz was also flooded. Regular operations at schools and kindergartens will not take place on Monday due to the consequences of the flood and the enormous rainfall.
Rescue with Black Hawk helicopter
In the St. Pölten district, several bodies of water overflowed their banks. “The fire brigades are primarily concerned with rescuing people from buildings or vehicles,” including boats and dinghies, the district command announced. There were also power outages. Residents were trapped in several houses. In Markersdorf, four people were freed from a building. After a traffic accident on the B19 in the Markersdorf municipality, a crew from a Black Hawk helicopter from the Federal Army rescued a policeman and a fireman who were stuck in the floodwaters at the scene of the accident. In Kirchberg an der Pielach, a person was trapped in their car by the waters of the Pielach. They were rescued by the emergency services.
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Markersdorf in Lower Austria: The crew of a Black Hawk helicopter of the Federal Army had to rescue a policeman and a fireman from the floods
In Klosterneuburg (Tulln district), a civil defense warning was issued for the entire municipal area on Sunday. The valleys were cut off and main roads were also impassable, the town hall reported. There was a danger of mudslides, landslides and falling trees.
In Melk, five people and a dog were brought to safety from two single-family homes due to a stream suddenly rising in water. Two of the residents were rescued by the St. Pölten water rescue service in a rubber dinghy. Hardegg (Hollabrunn district) was evacuated. According to the fire department, the situation on the Krems River became more serious. In the Gänserndorf district, a flood warning was issued for the March.
The situation in public transport was tense: “The dramatic flood situation is forcing us to make massive restrictions and cancel routes throughout the entire state. The safety of our fellow citizens, families, employees and emergency services is our top priority. Replacement services must also be cancelled in many regions,” said State Transport Minister and Deputy Governor Udo Landbauer (FPÖ).
Train traffic on the western route between Amstetten and St. Valentin was stopped at 1.15 a.m. due to flooding. On Sunday morning, the closure was extended to the section from Vienna to St. Valentin. “We can only agree with the travel warning issued by the state of Lower Austria and advise people to stay at home,” a spokesman told APA. Rail replacement services can only be offered in part because there is not enough capacity for this.
12,000 households in the state were without electricity on Sunday afternoon. The trend is declining, said EVN spokesman Stefan Zach.
“We will do everything we can to keep our schools open as much as possible,” said Mikl-Leitner. Anyone who cannot come to class on Monday without endangering themselves should and can stay at home. “Safety comes first,” stressed the governor. “Children who are unable to travel to the educational and care facility or where such travel is not safe will be considered excused,” said State Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister (ÖVP) and Education Director Karl Fritthum. FPÖ education spokesman Hermann Brückl had previously called for schools in the disaster areas to be closed on Monday.
Planned medical transports (with the exception of dialysis patients) cannot be carried out on Sunday and Monday, informed Notruf NÖ. According to a press release, the Lower Austrian Red Cross, together with the Samaritan Association NÖ, was deployed with 300 employees in addition to regular operations, including in crisis intervention teams. Additional helpers were on standby. Around 500 camp beds, blankets and headrests were requested from the Red Cross disaster relief camps on Saturday and are being set up at the sites.
“Due to the storm situation,” the Lower Austrian State Health Agency (LGA) recorded incidents such as water ingress at some locations, such as the St. Pölten nursing and care center. Acute care is “currently guaranteed everywhere,” it was emphasized. Unnecessary visits to clinics and care centers should be avoided. It also asked for understanding “that in individual cases, planned procedures or outpatient appointments may be canceled at short notice.” In these cases, those affected are contacted directly; contacting the clinics is not necessary for the patient, according to the LGA.
