Bavaria’s neighboring country Austria is one of the countries particularly badly affected by the current floods – especially Lower Austria. On Monday night, the water levels of rivers and reservoirs in Austria dropped. However, the authorities are yet to give a full explanation. It is raining heavily again. The situation is expected to improve only by the middle of the week.
“In many regions in recent days, people have had to leave their belongings and fear for their lives in dramatic situations,” said Chancellor Karl Nehhammer.
Four people died in the floods in Lower Austria
The death toll rose to four. In Lower Austria, a 70-year-old man and an 80-year-old man were found dead, police said. In two different villages, they got trapped inside their houses and drowned. In the evening, a dead man was found floating on his stomach in the water on the beach of Klosterneuburg. The victim is 40 to 50 years old.
A firefighter died Sunday while pumping out a basement.
Disaster area throughout Lower Austria
On Sunday, Lower Austria was declared a disaster area. According to officials, more than 25,000 firefighters and more than 1,000 soldiers were on duty.
On Sunday alone, more than 300 people were rescued from the floods. A total of 1,800 houses have now been evacuated. 170 people are staying in emergency shelters, and many are staying with relatives and friends.
Many houses are without sewerage connection, drinking water supply has been interrupted in some places and public transport has come to a complete standstill. More than 200 streets are closed. Flood affected students were exempted to stay at home.
Many dams failed in Lower Austria
“Dams are at high risk of collapsing,” Austrian officials warn. Dams have already broken in the Lower Austrian state capital of St. Bolton and other cities. On Monday night, floodwaters rushed through streets and residential areas. Heavy equipment and helicopters are on standby – especially for the clean-up operation that will begin on Wednesday if all goes well.
The Ottenstein Reservoir is drained in a controlled manner
Controlled release of water through floodplains in the Ottenstein Reservoir in the Kamp tributary of the Danube in Waldviertel, Lower Austria. It was intended to prevent flash floods, but initially worsened conditions downstream of the already swollen Kamp River. Residents and thousands of volunteers tried to protect their homes with sandbag walls.
As state chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU) said, Bavaria offers support from the Bavarian emergency services to Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. The central government has also offered to help the affected countries. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehhammer (ÖVP) announced an initial 300 million euros to repair flood damage.
Massive traffic problems in and around Vienna
The situation in the capital Vienna is somewhat calmer. The Vienna River, which overflowed at the city limits at the weekend, is receding again. However, local public transport is still affected, Mayor Michael Ludwig said. Many subway lines run only on narrow tracks. Drinking water supply has been ensured and road traffic has been repaired. However, the parks are closed at first due to falling trees due to erosion.
Heavy rain likely till Tuesday
60 liters of rain per square meter is expected in Lower Austria until Tuesday. According to meteorologists at broadcaster ORF, even larger amounts are possible in some places from Tyrol to eastern Austria.
In Lower Austria, 370 liters of rain per square meter has fallen in the past few days – many times the usual monthly amount.
Dramatic situation in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania
The Czech Republic, Poland and Romania also have dramatic flooding. In Poland, residents of several areas were evacuated on Monday after at least five deaths were reported, according to the PAP news agency. The Polish government declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. In the small town of Kłodzko, about 100 kilometers south of Wrocław, part of the pedestrian zone looks like a bomb went off. There the Glatzer Neisse, a tributary of the Oder, overflowed its banks.
In the Czech Republic, authorities recorded three more deaths on Monday. Eight people are still missing. More than 12,000 people had to flee their homes. Up to 2,000 soldiers are expected to help in flooded areas. At least seven people were killed in Romania.
With information from dpa and Reuters
