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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

Floods in Austria: The latest news and weather warnings you need to know

Severe floods continued to wreak havoc in Austria on Tuesday, with Lower Austria in crisis mode and widespread evacuations underway. Three people have died and officials warned of more flooding as temperatures rise and snowmelt accelerates.

Published: 16 September 2024 10:32 CEST
Updated: 16 September 2024 11:42 CEST
Floods in Austria: The latest news and weather warnings you need to know

Austria was facing severe flooding on Monday after days of relentless rain, with warnings that things could get worse in the coming days.

Lower Austria, the region around the capital Vienna, remained in “crisis mode,” with public transport paralysed, hundreds of roads closed, and normal life brought to a standstill, governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner said in a press conference early Monday. 

Emergency services were mobilised nationwide, and officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from affected areas.

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

On Monday morning, police confirmed two men were found dead in their homes: a 70-year-old in the district of St. Pölten-Land and an 80-year-old in Korneuburg. Both were victims of “the masses of water inside their homes”, police said. That raises the total number of victims to three, as the death of a firefighter on duty in Tulln had already been reported on Sunday.

Lower Austria in crisis mode

Mikl-Leitner stressed that the situation remained critical in lower Austria, with around 25,000 emergency personnel deployed. The governor and Fire Service Commander Dietmar Fahrafellner didn’t have specific numbers, but Austrian media said there were reports of around 1,100 properties evacuated. 

Flood damage was widespread, and rescue operations are continuing, especially in St. Pölten, Krems, and Tulln. Over 300 people were rescued from the St. Pölten district alone.

Authorities have warned the public not to make any non-essential journeys and warned people  against putting themselves and rescue teams at risk just to take photos of the flood waters.

Roads remained severely affected on Monday, with parts of the A2, A3, and A21 motorways closed due to flooding. 

Vienna faces ongoing disruptions

Although water levels in Vienna’s rivers have slightly dropped, the capital remains severely affected by the storms. 

Several underground lines, including the U2, U3, U4, and U6, were still partially out of service, with Wiener Linien wasn’t expecting full operations to resume until Wednesday. Residents were urged to use trams, buses, and other transport options.

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig warned of a “second wave” of rain and flooding expected on Monday.

Despite some improvements, power outages continued in parts of Penzing, Landstraße, and Donaustadt, with restoration efforts complicated by ongoing severe weather.

Flood risks heightened by snowmelt

The danger of further flooding remains high across the country, compounded by rising temperatures in the mountains, which are accelerating snowmelt and increasing water flow into already flooded areas. 

In Salzburg and other federal states, emergency services are working non-stop to pump out water, clear roads, and distribute sandbags.

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

What’s next?

Meteorologists forecast that the situation would remain volatile until Wednesday, with the risk of dam breaches also rising. Lower Austria had already seen ten dam failures, and further reinforcements were deployed to stabilise vulnerable areas.

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) extended its travel warning until Thursday, advising against non-essential travel. Major rail routes remained suspended. Authorities were on high alert for more rainfall and the potential for additional flooding as the week progresses.

Wednesday’s weather forecast in Austria. Source: Geosphere Austria

Residents across Austria were advised to monitor updates and follow official guidance, especially in high-risk areas.

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