Storms with violent gusts of wind moved over Carinthia on Thursday afternoon. The Wolfsberg district was particularly affected. Two children were killed by falling trees in St. Andräer See, confirmed the Red Cross.
The two dead children are four and eight years old from the Wolfsberg district, as Georg Fejan, the Wolfsberg district chief, announced at a Thursday night press conference. “Within seconds, the trees fell,” Fejan said. It’s the heaviest operation in decades.
According to Fejan, there are a total of 11 people injured, including five children and two seriously injured. According to police, several trees fell in St. Andräer See. The Red Cross and firefighters were on a massive scale, and by early evening, a search operation was also underway: clothes were found in the lake that could not be attributed to anyone.
“Chaotic States”
The Red Cross in Wolfsberg raised the district alarm, support also came from the Völkermarkt and Klagenfurt districts, the Red Cross in St. Veit an der Glan supported the regular rescue service at night. There were a total of two emergency medical vehicles, nine ambulances, two helicopters, the ten-person Crisis Intervention Team, as well as police and firefighters at Lake St. Andrä.
The storm hit the entire Wolfsberg district: “After the violent storm, the greater Wolfsberg area is partially like a battleground,” Wolfsberg Mayor Hannes Primus (SPÖ) said on Facebook.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen appeared via twitter affected. “The fact that two children died in the storms is an immeasurable tragedy,” said the federal president.
APA/GEORG BACHHIESL
south highway blocked
The storm also affected traffic: gusts of wind knocked down trees and blocked the southern motorway (A2) towards Italy near Griffen (Völkermarkt district). Traffic was therefore diverted from the motorway at Wolfsberg Süd and flowed along Packer Straße (B70). The road from Bad St. Leonhard, north of Wolfsberg, was also closed due to falling trees, police and Asfinag said.
ÖBB stop driving
ÖBB also stopped all rail traffic in Carinthia, East Tyrol and Styria in the afternoon. The cause was a large-scale failure in the 110 kV rail power supply to the Carinthia and Styria area, the railways said in a transmission. The duration of the interruption was not predictable for the time being.
According to Bahn, there is a failure of all rail traffic in the affected region. Trains on the route were forwarded to the next station. Replacement traffic is only possible to a limited extent. ÖBB is preparing an emergency schedule.
The duration of the blockage can only be predicted after a detailed damage assessment in the next few hours. All available staff are on call, Deutsche Bahn assured via broadcast.
Meteorologist in Carinthia: “One of the most violent storm fronts in decades”
Big push from such storms
ZAMG reported wind spikes well above 100 kilometers per hour in the affected areas. As a general warning of such storms, the expert referred to the great impetus of weather events with “enormous acceleration”.
For this reason and because the existing forecast models are not yet able to accurately assess the initial situation, large deviations can occur in extreme cases. Storm warnings would generally exist for today. “But the storms moved away,” the meteorologist said.
APA/ASFINAG
Power failure at A2
According to Asfinag, there was a power failure on the southern motorway, which is why the Pack tunnel chain on the A2 was closed in both directions. The Pyhrnautobahn (A9) in Styria was also affected – the Klauser tunnel and the Lainberg tunnel chain had to be closed, the ÖAMTC reported.
A tree fell on the road at the Gleinalm toll, so the A9 was closed in the direction of Graz. Traffic was diverted from St. Michael via the Semmering Expressway (S6) and the Brucker Expressway (S35). Fallen trees between Kalwang and Treglwang also block the north/Voralpenkreuz route.
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In the Liezen district of Upper Styria, firefighters also reported numerous operations due to the damage caused by the storm: trees fell on the streets and blocked traffic lanes, according to the Liezen area fire department command. Among others, the federal road Ennstal (B320), Schoberpassstraße (B113), Gesäusestraße (B146) and Pürggerstraße (L733) were affected.
covered roof
The storm was particularly severe in the area between Gröbming and Treglwang or Admont, according to firefighters. A roof was covered in Stainach. In the afternoon, about 150 men and women were initially on hand to help. Due to the large number of emergency calls received, the area alert center was manned by dispatchers as a precaution. As of 5 pm, 21 dams in the Leoben area were also involved in severe weather conditions.
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The storm was particularly severe in the area between Gröbming and Treglwang or Admont, according to firefighters. A roof was covered in Stainach. In the afternoon, about 150 men and women were initially on hand to help. Due to the large number of emergency calls received, the area alert center was manned by dispatchers as a precaution. The storm continued to the east and initially announced itself in Graz with gusts of wind.
Motorcycle GP power failure
At the start of the Austrian Motorcycle GP in Spielberg, heavy rain caused an apparently large-scale power failure. This also affected series world champion Marc Marquez, whose media appointment at the Red Bull Ring in Upper Styria had to be stopped. “Are we still safe anyway?” the Spaniard asked on the first floor, in front of the trailer “swinging” on the tarmac.
Also dead in Italy
Strong storms also hit Italy on Thursday and caused considerable damage, especially in Tuscany and Liguria. Two people were killed by trees in Tuscany that were blown down by strong winds. The victims – a man and a woman – died near the city of Lucca and in a park in Carrara.
Four other people who were staying at a campsite in the Tuscan resort of Marina di Massa were also injured by falling trees.