The tragedy surrounding a five-year-old boy in St. Marein near Graz is causing grief throughout the country: he was buried in the forest after a landslide and died. State geologist Martin Schröttner was on site. He noted, “Sand was mined here a long time ago.”
Could such a tragedy have been prevented? This question always comes up. Listening to Martin Schröttner’s comments, you get the impression that St. Marein’s death drama was a sad fate.
The accident site, where a woman and four children were traveling Wednesday afternoon, “is on a steep slope in the forest,” the state geologist said. Long ago – probably decades ago – sand was mined on this private property. The area is heavily vegetated; at the edge of the dike there are old, mighty trees with strong roots. The almost vertical sand walls are five to six meters high.
Digging until complete exhaustion
According to the police, approximately 100 cubic meters of soil were loosened. One child was partially buried; his life is out of danger. However, a five-year-old boy was completely buried. 140 firefighters dug in unison, fighting for his life. After ten to fifteen minutes of digging they were returned completely exhausted. But there was no salvation for the child.
The emergency services themselves took a lot of risk. “During the rescue, a trickling sound could be heard continuously,” reports Schröttner. The area is currently not accessible for safe working and the cordon has been extended. Only when the trees secured during the operation have been removed and the top edge of the dike has been cut can the securing of the evidence begin.
“It makes you desperate”
Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP) and his deputy Anton Lang (SPÖ) are shocked by the tragedy. They expressed their deepest condolences to the family. “It makes you desperate and sad,” Drexler says.
According to Harald Eitner, head of the Styrian Civil Protection Service, it cannot be said with certainty whether the incident is causally linked to Saturday’s heavy rain, but it is very likely. At that time, a super thunder cell also passed over St. Marein, causing enormous amounts of rain.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
