Thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail have been keeping Austria in suspense for days. Huge masses of water – up to 100 liters per square meter within 24 hours – soften the soil and loosen it from the subsoil. Even after the death drama in Graz, the danger has still not been averted. Temperatures are rising, but heavy rain and thunderstorms may cause damage again over the weekend.
A week ago, the Aggsteiner Straße (B 33) in the Melk district (Lower Austria) had to be closed after a mudslide. Large boulders had fallen onto the road. A cyclist was injured. Landslides and mudslides occurred in Tyrol as a result of heavy rainfall. And in the Zillertal, rocks and rubble finally came crashing down.
Styria hit hard by storms
However, Styria is particularly hard hit. A mudslide blocked the Pyhrnautbahn (A 9) near Bösebach – and now the death drama in which a five-year-old child was killed by a mudslide.
The threat of severe weather has still not been averted. Although the sun is shining and temperatures are getting warmer, heavy showers and thunderstorms may move through the country again over the weekend, bringing larger amounts of rain that will cause damage.
Fear of renewed danger in St. Marein
There is therefore great fear in St. Marein. Wednesday evening, until they were completely exhausted, members of the Petersdorf Volunteer Fire Department dug with their bare hands and shovels for the child who had recently been buried by masses of earth.
“Did everything you could do”
The alarm went off at 5:14 p.m. “When we arrived at the scene of the accident, the neighbors were already desperately digging in the ground. “We then came to help with shoveling and really did everything we could do,” says a visibly scarred Floriani Gottfried Hofer.
Because the affected area in St. Marein near Graz is a sloping slope, trees that were also at risk of slipping had to be temporarily secured. “We fought until the last glimmer of hope disappeared,” Hofer told “Krone”, shortly after it became sadly certain that the boy could no longer be saved.
Second mudflow victim out of danger
A woman had gone for a walk with her two children and two of her friends’ children in a nearby forest when the tragic accident occurred. After persistent rainfall, more than 1,000 cubic meters of soil suddenly became loose. Two of the children were buried, but on Friday morning the signal was given for the one who was injured to be rescued: “The young patient is in the pediatric surgery department, he has minor injuries, there is no danger to his life.” said Simone Pfandl-Pichler from Graz University Hospital, where the child was delivered by helicopter.
“The community is incredibly sad”
In an initial statement, the mayor was just as deeply affected: “The people in the community are incredibly sad, the events have gone through everyone’s hearts and souls,” said Franz Knauhs, local boss of St. Marein near Graz. The family has been in the community for a long time, with the boys only “moving back to the community with their children to their parents’ home not too long ago.”
New landslides threaten in the forests
State geologist Martin Schröttner examined the accident site: “Sand was extracted here a long time ago, probably decades ago.” It goes down almost vertically five to six meters. The area is heavily vegetated and there are old, mighty trees on the edge of the dike. These must now be shortened so that police can safely begin collecting evidence.
Warning against walking in the woods
In general, the Styrian government warns against walks in the forest: the danger is great! More landslides could occur and even low wind speeds could uproot trees.
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.
