There is absolute alertness in Austria: the situation is escalating dramatically, especially in Lower Austria. The first residents in Kamptal have already been evacuated. In Vienna too, the expanding Danube is causing concern for the emergency services, including apparently the Chancellor.
Due to the heavy, persistent rain, the water level in Austria is currently rising threateningly. The first residents in Hadersdorf am Kamp (Lower Austria) have had to leave their homes. The Kamp has already burst its banks in several places, with the situation being made worse by the fact that water is still flowing from the previously emptied reservoirs. First reported by “Puls24”.
Precautionary measure in the second residence area
According to the safety authorities, this is a precautionary measure in accordance with the emergency plan. The settlement, which mainly consists of second homes, is located in a flood risk area that is often affected by flooding. As a precaution, the owners were advised to keep their valuables safe. The site itself is not currently under water and the situation is being closely monitored.
The water is already in the front gardens:
The Chancellor holds an emergency meeting
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) held a briefing with experts in the Federal Chancellery on Friday evening and had contacts with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP).
“Almost all federal states are currently affected by extreme rainfall and in some cases snowfall. The coming days therefore represent an enormous challenge for all emergency services, civil protection, the police and the armed forces are on high alert to help where support is needed,” the chancellery said.
Nehammer has canceled the election campaign dates scheduled for this weekend. The Chancellor will attend a briefing between the State Crisis and Disaster Protection Management (SKKM) and the state control centers of the Ministry of the Interior on Saturday afternoon.
City of Vienna activates flood protection
The employees of the city of Vienna are now also preparing for the impending flooding – the city’s water protection is ready to respond to the situation accordingly. The good news: Thanks to the Danube Island and the New Danube, Vienna is well prepared for large amounts of water.
According to the flood control centre MA 45, the flood control centre in Langenzersdorf and two other weirs on the New Danube must be manned at all times from Saturday morning in order to be sufficiently prepared for the expected water volumes.
Dam system as protection against extreme flooding
With a length of 21 kilometres and a width of approximately 210 metres, the Danube Island functions as a huge protective structure. It flanks the New Danube, which acts as a relief channel for the main river.
When the water level rises, the New Danube takes on an important relief function for the Danube. Equipped with three weirs, the New Danube is usually a stagnant body of water. But when the water level rises, about 5.20 meters at Korneuburg, the flood automatically flows into the New Danube. At a height of about six meters, the weir fields are gradually opened to drain the water in a controlled manner.
The dam system in and around Vienna is designed for an enormous flow capacity of up to 14,000 cubic meters of water per second. This corresponds to the largest flood ever measured in Central Europe in 1501. The extreme floods of 2002 and 2013 were also kept under control and the city remained de facto unscathed.
Swimming ban announced
However, the safety authorities are urging caution: for reasons of water hygiene, a swimming ban has been declared with immediate effect. The city also advises against excursions on the sidewalks and cycle paths along the streams and in the forest and to stay at home during heavy rain and gusts of wind.
The two pontoon bridges over the New Danube, the Copa Bridge and the Waluliso Bridge, were dismantled for the weekend. The Copa Cruise ferry temporarily stopped sailing and was moved to a flood-safe zone.
According to the Vienna professional fire brigade, the emergency services received more calls than usual on Friday afternoon – for example due to fallen trees and water ingress. Fortunately, no one has been injured so far.
Source: Krone
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