Thursday’s storm front also called out the Styrian mountain rescue service. She had to move several times to free hikers — including two children — from alpine emergencies. Some fled to safety in an army bunker.
Seven people, including two children, were surprised by the strong thunderstorm around 4 p.m. in the area of the Kreiskogel summit in the Seetaler Alps. They informed the mountain rescue service. The unfavorable weather conditions made it impossible to deploy a helicopter and even after the weather improved, it was unavailable due to other operations. Twelve mountain rescue workers from the mountain rescue service in Judenburg and two alpine police officers and six army personnel climbed up and escorted the hikers safely to the service hut of the mountain rescue service in Judenburg.
“The seven people were soaked and slightly hypothermic, but we heated up our service cabin and prepared it to warm up,” said Julian Wurm, operations manager of the mountain rescue service in Judenburg. From there, around 9 p.m., they began their journey home independently. “After the alarm went off, I called the emergency caller and told them to wait for the thunderstorm in an army bunker in the immediate vicinity of the summit,” Wurm continued.
Alpine emergency also in the Rottenmanner Tauern
There was also an alpine emergency in the Rottenmanner Tauern. Three mountaineers were surprised by the storm in the area of the Dreispitzengrats in the rugged terrain. They were exhausted, hypothermic and a hiker was injured. They then made an emergency call and notified emergency services. Two attempts to rescue the people in distress by helicopter were not possible due to high winds and adverse weather conditions.
24 mountain rescuers had to walk more than three hours to the three alpinists through very steep, impassable and alpine terrain. The three hikers received first aid at the scene. After about seven hours, the people in need were back in the valley along with the mountain rescuers.
“We had to accompany the people, fastened with a rope, through the very steep, wet and slippery terrain in the most adverse weather conditions to the valley. Then there was darkness, strong winds, fog and rain,” said Christoph Kandler, chief of operations at the Hohentauern Mountain Rescue Service, of the challenges.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
