Storm, hail, bodies of water: violent storms raged in Styria. The community of St. Martin im Sulmtal was particularly affected. The mayor says: “Every cent in the fire brigade is well invested!”
When the sky above St. Martin in the Sulmtal was clear blue again on Saturday afternoon, the community in southwestern Styria was still in the grip of the previous day’s storm. A violent storm covered the roofs, hailstones with a diameter of up to eight centimeters rained down on cars and fields, roads were constructed, cellars were flooded with water.
“We have never had such a catastrophe,” says Mayor Franz Silly. It was striking how small the storm raged. While the storm destroyed ‘ten beautiful old fruit trees’ on the Silly property, the local boss was spared the hail. Elsewhere it destroyed entire crops.
“No one asks how long they have to work”
More than 170 firefighters were present in St. Martin on Friday, and on Saturday there were seventy more. They covered the roofs of houses with tarpaulins, cleaned the streets and encouraged the residents. “No one asks how long they have to work. Every cent for the fire brigade is well invested,” says Silly enthusiastically.
The storm also hit surrounding communities, such as Bad Schwanberg, hard on Friday, with the path of destruction stretching as far as Gleinstätten. The first estimates from the hail insurance indicate damage of almost two million euros to agriculture in Styria.
A calming of the situation is still not in sight: the chance of thunderstorms in the humid air remains high on Saturday and Sunday, and heavy storms are still possible on Monday.
Source: Krone
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