LOWER AUSTRIA: Firefighter Injured During Storm Operation
The 44-year-old firefighter had to be taken to the hospital on Thursday afternoon after the storm operation, as reported by the district fire department command Waidhofen an der Thaya.
Animals Rescued During Storm Operation in Lower Austria
In the municipality of Raabs an der Thaya, several fire department operations occurred after heavy rainfall. Private rain gauge stations recorded approximately 50 liters of precipitation per square meter in some areas within a quarter of an hour. There were 39 operations across Lower Austria due to heavy rain, according to the state fire department command.
In the Raabs localities of Luden, Eibenstein, Nonndorf, Trabersdorf, and Zemmendorf, 32 firefighters were deployed for pumping and cleaning operations. Animals were rescued from a flooded farm in Zemmendorf. Basements and streets were also flooded. The volunteer operations were completed around 10:00 PM.
According to the state fire department command, helpers were also deployed in the districts of Zwettl, Krems, Horn, and Hollabrunn. Pumping operations were necessary, and storm damage had to be cleared or manhole covers closed.
182 Storm Operations in Linz
In Linz, the massive rainfall led to flooding of basements, underpasses, and streets. As reported by the professional fire department, they were called to 182 operations in the city area. In Upper Austria (including Linz), the fire departments were deployed to around 400 operations in total, according to the state fire department command.
The storms began on Thursday early evening in Dietach (district of Steyr-Land). Within 20 minutes, 20 reports were received by the fire department due to extreme rainfall. Contrary to forecasts, storms did not occur, but enormous amounts of water fell from the sky in a short time in certain areas. No one was injured, it was further reported.
According to the Austrian Hail Insurance, there was agricultural damage in the districts of Steyr-Land and Linz-Land. Initial assessments by experts estimate the damage at 700,000 euros. Affected crops on an arable area of around 1,200 hectares were mainly corn, grain, rapeseed, and soybeans.
(APA/Red)
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