“There is little hope, we have to expect the worst,” it sounded again and again in the Tyrolean Stubai Valley after Friday’s devastating storm. The fate of Father Augustin, who has disappeared without a trace, causes great consternation in the valley and far beyond. Innsbruck’s Bishop Hermann Glettler calls for prayer for the priest.
“Where’s Rev. Augustin?” Glettler wrote on Instagram on Sunday. This question is on many minds today. “I share the grief with the people in the Stubai Valley and in all of Tyrol. Sincere condolences, God’s comfort, … The pastor probably died in a devastating mudslide during the night from Friday to Saturday. There is no certainty. Thanks for the prayer!” continued the head of the church of the diocese of Innsbruck.
Bible and personal belongings discovered
A Bible, business cards and documents – these personal belongings of the pastor were discovered on Saturday by water rescue services on the banks of the Ruetz. Parts of his car were also recovered from the torrential water – torn into several pieces and barely recognizable as a car.
Much sympathy and sorrow throughout the valley
There is still no trace of Pastor Augustin. The search for the missing person has been suspended for the time being. It is continued when the waters of the Ruetz River have calmed down. At Sunday masses in the five parishes of the pastoral room, prayers were prayed for the pastor. “The shock is deep. Throughout the valley, the pastor’s fate is the most important topic. The sympathy is great,” Fulpmes Mayor Johann Deutschmann sums up the mood. The words of his colleague Andreas Gleirscher from Neustift are similar: “We are all deeply affected. No material damage can weigh more heavily than fear and grief for a person.”
Clearance work is in full swing
The clean-up work after the storm continues at full speed. The rubble basins in the valley are full of boulders and rocks and now need to be dredged as soon as possible. More precipitation has already been announced for Monday.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
