Austria's Largest State Transforms into a Catastrophe Region
In no part of the Alpine region is the flood situation as severe as in Lower Austria. Predictions indicate an additional 50 millimeters of rainfall within the coming hours. Numerous areas are submerged, a reservoir might soon exceed its limit. The fire department has executed numerous operations.
Following persistent downpours, Austria's Lower Austria region has been classified as an emergency zone. As per the Austrian Press Agency (APA), Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf, there's a forecast of up to 50 millimeters of additional rainfall in the upcoming hours. This is contributing to widespread flooding across the nation, according to Pernkopf.
The overall situation is becoming progressively dire due to the persistent rainfall. There's a potential risk of landslides due to the fully saturated ground in certain spots. Countless roads have been flooded.
Lower Austria is the most afflicted region within Alpine Austria, damaged severely by the ongoing storms. The largest federal state, which encompasses Vienna's capital, houses approximately 1.72 million inhabitants. An estimated 4,500 rescue operations were conducted here overnight, during which evacuations occurred in some instances. Some rural communities are reportedly now inaccessible by road.
Rail services on the Amstetten-St. Valentin line in eastern Austria have been halted, announced the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). This line is a part of the railway connection between Vienna and Germany. Additionally, several Vienna subway lines close to the Wien River have been shut down too.
Firefighters save individuals from houses
In certain communities in Lower Austria north of Vienna, firefighters had to extract individuals trapped in their houses overnight. One person was rescued from their car caught in the floodwaters of the Pielach, which burst its banks to the west of Vienna. In specific areas, firefighters are employing boats.
Individuals from flood-prone streets in various communities have been encouraged to leave their homes. The declaration of an emergency zone grants authorities increased powers, enabling them to order evacuations, for example.
The situation is most critical around the Kamp and Krems rivers, which drain into the Danube. Energy supplier EVN predicts that during the day, the already almost full Ottenstein reservoir on the Kamp will overflow. This will swell the lower reaches of the river further. The Thaya River in the district of Waidhofen, approximately 70 kilometers north of the Danube, has surpassed its 100-year flood level, as per official reports. In other words, water levels are exceeding the statistically expected once every 100 years.
The storm "Boris" is currently ravaging Central and Eastern Europe and causing damage and flooding in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Romania. As of now, four lives have been claimed. Water levels have also increased in Germany's Saxony and Bavaria states.
The floodwaters have caused numerous roads in Lower Austria to be submerged, adding to the overall chaos. Due to the imminent risk of the Ottenstein reservoir overflowing, more evacuations might be necessary in the affected areas.
