‘Not everything is clear’ is still the motto in Lower Austria, where the entire country is still considered a disaster area. State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) announced this on Sunday evening. It is hoped that the night will at least bring a “small breather”.
“The situation is still precarious,” stressed State Fire Chief Dietmar Fahrafellner after a briefing on Sunday. People are still being rescued. The State Fire Chief did not want to commit to a number for the time being. On Sunday morning, there were 1,100 evacuated buildings. More than 25,000 emergency services from Lower Austria “and beyond” were deployed.
The federal government promised disaster fund funds for the flooded state. Chancellor Karl Nehammer described the situation as “particularly challenging” and of “unprecedented proportions.” Nehammer offered his condolences to the relatives of a firefighter who died while pumping out work in the Tulln district.
Mikl-Leitner spoke of an “exceptional situation” prevailing in the country. The damage caused by flooding is great, as is the suffering of the people. Forces from Styria and Upper Austria were also in action on Sunday afternoon. Mikl-Leitner hoped that a decrease in rainfall during the night would provide a “small respite”.
“Whole country in disaster mode”
The country is “in disaster mode,” LH deputy Stephan Pernkopf (ÖVP) also said on Sunday evening. “On several rivers, the 100-year flood level has been reached or even far exceeded.” The discharge peaks on the Danube are “expected in the coming hours.” However, an ‘all clear’ cannot yet be given, as up to 60 liters of rain per square meter are forecast for the next 48 hours and particularly heavy rainfall is forecast for Monday morning.
Support for the emergency services was provided by helicopters from the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Army and the “Christophorus” fleet of the ÖAMTC. The state also requested assistance from the Federal Army. About 1,000 soldiers were available.
Source: Krone
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