Water Ingress in Vienna JA Josefstadt: Power Outage in One Wing Persists

"The entire electrical system in a building section is affected," said spokesperson Michael Weigl from the media office to the APA on Friday morning. However, the exact extent is not yet clear, according to Josefstadt. The inmates who were transferred to other prisons are to remain there for the time being, according to Weigl: "We do not know how long this will take."

According to APA information, the water damage affected the youth department in the JA Josefstadt as well as the department for measures execution, where mentally ill persons are housed. The latter were transferred to the JA Göllersdorf, 23 boys were moved to the new youth prison at JA Münnichplatz in Vienna-Simmering, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. In total, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, 80 inmates were relocated.

Water likely entered through exposed and uncovered roof areas

The water intrusion occurred as a result of heavy rainfall on Wednesday in the area of renovation work on the building. According to informed sources, construction workers in the roof area may not have properly covered exposed areas for torching work. When the heavy downpours began, water then entered the interior. The top floor of the JA was particularly affected. There were power outages. The most severely affected departments were forced to close.

The investigations into what caused the rainwater entry are still ongoing. There is no final result yet. A small part of the inmate population had to be relocated to other institutions or other building sections. However, the general safety as well as the safety of the inmates and staff in the correctional facility was ensured at all times, as emphasized by the Ministry of Justice.

"We were confirmed by the institution's management that yesterday 23 youths moved to Münnichplatz. What was previously not possible due to poor project management has now been achieved by 'force majeure'. Namely, that these youths are now where they should be," responded the Ombudswoman responsible for the penal system, Gabriela Schwarz, to the recent developments. The Ombudsman will "closely monitor whether the now total of 39 youths remain at Münnichplatz in the long term and are also appropriately cared for there," announced Schwarz. Speaking to the APA, Schwarz praised the team at JA Josefstadt, which has been conducting "excellent crisis management" since the water intrusion.

(APA/Red)

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