After a storm on Friday evening, the urban area of Hollabrunn has been declared a disaster area. Heavy rainfall caused flooding. On Saturday, there were clean-up operations. But the next weather chaos was approaching quickly. Since this afternoon, the red weather alert has been in effect…
Lower Austrian Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) announced support for the state and a briefing was scheduled for 5 p.m. The district administration declared the urban area of Hollabrunn an official disaster area on Saturday, the state said. More than 100 millimeters of rain fell in a very short time on Friday evening, reported Stefan Obritzhauser, commander of the FF Hohenwarth.
Major flooding was the result
The result was massive flooding. Two disaster response trains were called. According to a press release, about 50 fire departments with about 700 members responded to more than 100 missions.
According to district commander Alois Zaussinger, it was one of the largest operations in the district. The “Augustwiesn” in Hollabrunn was evacuated and the guests were accommodated in the town hall in cooperation with the fire brigade and the municipality. 22 horses were rescued from a riding school.
Even the fire station was flooded
In the village of Oberfellabrunn, part of Hollabrunn, the water was 30 to 40 centimeters high, according to Obritzhauser. The levels of the Runzenbach and Göllersbach in the Hollabrunn and Göllersdorf area rose. The Hollabrunn substation was flooded and the critical situation was defused with the help of large pumps. Even the fire station was flooded. In the Göllersdorf area, a flood basin was secured with the help of large pumps. When a dam broke in the Mitterweg area in Hollabrunn, the helpers were also present with a telehandler. At the same time, several traffic accidents occurred. A total of five people were injured.
Roads covered with mud
“In daylight, the extent of the damage is even clearer,” the fire department said. Roads were washed away, partially eroded and had to be closed. In some places, the water was up to a meter high, the fire department reported in a broadcast. “The main routes are passable again,” Obritzhauser said Saturday. Some side streets were still covered in mud.
Train services were stopped
Because the railway embankment had been washed away, train traffic between Hollabrunn and Göllersdorf was halted on Friday evening. Around 12:30, the closure on the Nordwestbahn section was lifted.
DMikl-Leitner thanked the volunteers. “Today, during a briefing on site, I will get an idea of the situation. But one thing is already clear to me: the region can count on the support of the state,” the state governor said in a written statement.
But the next storm chaos is already threatening on Saturday afternoon. The Austrian severe weather center had again announced a red warning level for Lower Austria. There is a risk of hail, thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Source: Krone
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