The Cobra task force in Präbichl, Upper Styria required precision work. Hurricane-like wind gusts had broken a 110 kV pole. Energie Steiermark had the specialists come to shoot out or blow up the phase spacers that were still attached to the mast.
In mid-September a storm raged through Styria at speeds of up to 200 km/h. In addition to numerous felled trees, an electricity pylon on the Hirscheggsattel on Präbichl also fell victim to the gusts of wind.
Walking area largely closed
As Energie Steiermark now reports, the lines remained intact, but lay on the ground. Therefore, the affected area was closed off over a large area by the authorities. The hiking trails that run through the zone have also been no longer accessible since then.
Too dangerous for climbers
To prevent the adjacent masts from falling over in the event of new gusts of wind, the conductor cables should have been cut and anchored to the fallen mast. The problem, however, was the phase spacers: use by climbers would have been too dangerous and the accident site was not sufficiently accessible for crane work.
The unorthodox solution: “We asked BH Leoben for help,” explains Energie Steiermark spokesperson Urs Harnik. “The elite Cobra unit and the district police command were tasked with shooting down the twelve phase spacers.”
Initially, the unusual operation was successfully rehearsed in Graz and in mid-October we were able to proceed to an emergency situation. A total of seven Cobra officers, five Alpine police officers and a police helicopter were involved in the operation. The result: three spacers were neutralized by gunfire, the remaining nine were blown up.
Power supply secured everywhere
The mast itself must be replaced at the end of November. According to Energie Steiermark, the power supply is guaranteed at all times during the work.
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.
