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FLOODS

IN PICTURES: How devastating floods turned Austria into a ‘disaster zone’

Parts of Austria were declared a natural disaster zone on Sunday as the country was hit by unprecedented flooding which caused havoc across the country and left residents facing "the worst hours of their lives".

Published: 15 September 2024 22:43 CEST
Updated: 16 September 2024 08:57 CEST
IN PICTURES: How devastating floods turned Austria into a 'disaster zone'
The Danube Canal overflows its banks in Vienna's city center on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Since Thursday, swathes of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have been hit by high winds and unusually heavy rainfall.

The rains have flooded streets and submerged entire neighbourhoods in some places, while shutting down public transport and electricity in others.

These images from AFP and from social media reveal the extent of the flooding, which claimed the life of a fireman and caused widespread devastation.

The fireman died in floods in the Lower Austria region, which has been classified as a natural disaster zone, regional governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner told reporters Sunday.

“For many residents, the upcoming hours will be the worst of their lives,” she said.

READ ALSO: ‘Unprecedented situation’: Austria hit by torrential rain and floods

Emergency services had made nearly 5,000 interventions overnight in the state of Lower Austria, where flooding had trapped many residents in their homes.

A highway from western Austria to Vienna was shut just outside the capital and four of Vienna’s five metro lines had been shut in the city, where the Wien river was threatening to overflow its banks, according to local news reports.

In some areas of the Tyrol region were blanketed by up to a metre (three feet) of snow — an exceptional situation for mid-September, which saw temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) last week.

Rail services were suspended in the country’s east early Sunday.

The images below are from AFP

Below the confluence of the swollen Danube Canal (from left) and the Wienfluss river near the Urania Observatory in Vienna, Austria, is pictured on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

 
The image below shows the the Wienfluss river overflows its banks on Sunday September 15th (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP
 

 
The image below shows the Danube Canal overflowing its banks in Vienna’s city center on Sunday September 15th. (Photo:  Alex HALADA / AFP)
 

Alex Hedalda / AFP
 
THe image below shows people taking pictures of the Danube Canal as it overflows its banks in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday September 15th (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)
 

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WEATHER

‘Unprecedented situation’: Austria hit by torrential rain and floods

Austria was hit by devastating floods and extreme weather over the weekend. Authorities in Lower Austria have declared a disaster area, while Vienna’s public transport and power supply are under strain.

Published: 15 September 2024 13:54 CEST
'Unprecedented situation': Austria hit by torrential rain and floods

The extreme weather that hit Austria over the weekend saw torrential rain and gale-force winds provoke floods and widespread disruption. 

Experts forecast continuous rainfall until at least Monday, with 150 to 200 litres of rain per square metre expected across the Salzkammergut and the Vienna Woods. 

The situation was particularly dire in Lower Austria, where authorities declared a disaster area on Sunday morning.

READ ALSO: Floods and avalanches: Austria set for weekend of extreme weather

Lower Austria declared disaster zone

Lower Austria was it by some one one of the worst weather in recent history. Firefighters battled flooding across the province, with over 1,160 fire brigades and 20,000 personnel deployed. One firefighter lost their life during rescue operations in the Tulln district, Austrian media reported. 

Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner called the situation “dramatic” and warned that further heavy rainfall was expected. Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf said, “We are dealing with an unprecedented extreme situation. “

Several roads, including the West motorway, were closed due to flooding. The Ottenstein reservoir was predicted to reach its capacity by Sunday afternoon, which could lead to further overflows.

Vienna on high alert

The storm-related flooding has reached Vienna, with parts of the city now facing significant disruption. In Penzing, the Wien River overflowed its banks, flooding homes and forcing evacuations. Several underground lines, including the U2, U3, U4, and U6, were operating on a restricted basis due to rising water levels. Wiener Linien does not expect normal services to resume until Wednesday, as extensive protective measures were put in place.

People take pictures of the Danube Canal overflowing its banks in Vienna, Austria, on September 15, 2024. – A fireman in northeastern Austria has died in flooding as the country was hit by torrential rains that have lashed central and eastern Europe, authorities said. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

READ ALSO: Storm Boris wreaks havoc across Austria and wider Europe

Authorities have urged residents to avoid the banks of the Wienfluss and Liesingbach rivers, which are at risk of further flooding. Power outages have also affected parts of the city, including Penzing, Landstraße, and Donaustadt, where thousands of households are without electricity.

Transport and event cancellations

Train services across Austria have been heavily impacted. The ÖBB has suspended services on the West line between Amstetten and St. Valentin, and passengers were being advised to postpone non-essential travel. The validity of train tickets has been extended, but it was unclear when regular services will resume.

Numerous events have been cancelled, including the Wachau Marathon, concerts in Wels and the Wachau, and several Austrian Bundesliga football matches. Road closures due to flooding have added to the chaos, with over 45 federal and state roads closed in Lower Austria alone.

Government advice for Monday

As the weather continues to worsen, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that schools will remain open where possible. However, parents should not send their children to school if doing so would put them at risk.

According to advice from the Chamber of Labour and the Austrian Trade Union Federation, employees unable to attend work due to the severe weather will not face penalties as long as they inform their employers in advance.

“We are doing everything we can to keep schools open, but safety comes first,” said Lower Austria Governor Mikl-Leitner.

Authorities have asked people to stay home whenever possible, charge their devices (as there is still a risk of power outages), and check weather services and local government announcements.

READ NEXT: ‘Achtung… Gefahr’: What do Austria’s weather warnings actually mean?

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