After the largest storm operation of this year, Styrian fire brigades are taking stock of their operations: on Tuesday, more than 1,000 troops had to be deployed for a total of 261 missions. The larger area of Pischelsdorf and Anger and Mürzzuschlag were the hardest hit.
What had already been announced in the morning hours would become a major operation for the Styrian fire brigades during the course of Tuesday: an Italian depression passed over Styria with large storm clouds and heavy rain. A small tornado was observed in Graz. Extreme amounts of rain exceeding 70 liters per square meter caused devastating scenes, especially in the areas of Pischelsdorf, Neudorf, Großpesendorf and Ilztal.
In Pischelsdorf, the sports field, the Römerbad and the area around the business park were flooded by the Römerbach, the volunteer fire brigade reports. In addition, massive amounts of water threatened to flood into the kindergarten, which could only be prevented with sandbags. “Several cars drifted into the parking lot in front of the kindergarten and had to be temporarily secured so they did not get caught in the flow,” the report continues. It is hoped that emergency shelter operations will be possible on Wednesday.
“It was the largest operation due to the heavy rain this year,” confirms Thomas Maier, press spokesman for the fire brigade association. More than 1,000 firefighters from 172 fire brigades had to carry out a total of 261 missions. In the Weiz district, 70 locations, some of which were severely affected, had to be maintained simultaneously. This mainly involved technical work due to the storm: from pumping out to securing and cleaning up. “It started in the early afternoon, the last alarm was just before midnight,” says Maier.
The Weiz area and the Mürzzuschlag area were particularly affected by the floods. “The Kulmland Stadium was a big pond. But there were also hotspots in the Graz region, South-East Styria and Hartberg,” says Maier. And further: “The massive flooding should subside today, what remains is the clean-up work.” Gleisdorf Mayor Christoph Stark (ÖVP) posted on Facebook on Wednesday morning: “Thank you to all emergency services from across the region for their help and assistance. getting involved! All the best for Pischelsdorf!”
Source: Krone
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