Authorities caution against flood-related scams in Austria

The police have issued warnings about fraud attempts during the clean-up work following the recent floods, particularly concerning fake tradespeople and illegal bulky waste collections.

In Pixendorf (Tulln district), two men in a white van offered clean up services at an inflated price, prompting the residents to call the authorities.

There have been increasing reports of fake tradesmen exploiting the situation by charging exorbitant fees. The police advise checking the legitimacy of companies through the Chamber of Commerce’s online directory, “WKO Firmen A-Z,” to ensure they are registered in Austria.

Police also recommend refusing advance payments and avoiding allowing unsupervised strangers into your home. Additionally, they caution against illegal bulky waste collectors, as items collected this way can no longer be assessed by claims commissions or insurance companies, resulting in no compensation.

How Austria plans to prevent future catastrophic floods

Following catastrophic floods in Lower Austria, the Austrian government has announced the creation a €1 billion disaster fund to rebuild affected areas and prevent future disasters. Here’s how you can access help.

Cows stranded in heavy snow receive emergency helicopter drop

An aviation company from the Salzkammergut region has taken on an unusual task after recent heavy snowfall: delivering supplies to animals snowed in on high-altitude pastures. Near Bad Ischl, several cows and calves are stranded in deep snow, unable to return to the valley.

The animals had been grazing in Bärengraben, at the end of the Rettenbach Valley, at around 1,400 metres above sea level. Despite efforts by the farmer to bring them down before the weather worsened, the lush alpine meadows made moving the livestock difficult. Over the past few days, a metre of snow has fallen, cutting off access to the animals.

In response, a helicopter delivered four bales of silage, each weighing 800 kilograms, to feed the cows for the next four days. The farmer hopes the snow will thaw soon; otherwise, another helicopter drop may be needed.

Austrian Catholic numbers fall by 1.9 percent in 2023

The Austrian Bishops’ Conference reported another decline in Roman Catholics, with 4,638,842 members as of December 31st, 2023, down 1.9% from 2022. This decrease is driven by 85,163 people leaving the Church and a drop in baptisms, with only 39,488 recorded in 2023, partly due to fewer births.

Despite this, church contributions rose slightly to €511.03 million. Mass attendance remained steady, with over 321,000 worshippers on key Sundays, and around 800,000 following services from home. The number of priests also fell slightly, with 3,320 in 2023.

Woman dies after avalanche in Salzburg, police confirm

A 56-year-old woman who was buried in an avalanche near Hüttschlag (Pongau) on Tuesday has died from her injuries. 

Police confirmed that the woman, who had been buried up to her neck, passed away in hospital on Wednesday night.

The avalanche occurred at approximately 2.15 pm on the hiking trail to Schödersee, at around 1,300 metres. Four hikers, all German nationals, were caught in the avalanche. 

While three managed to free themselves, the 56-year-old was trapped under the snow and had to be rescued by emergency services. She was airlifted to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. A 21-year-old German hiker was also injured.

The avalanche risk remains high due to recent heavy snowfall, with up to 150 cm of snow accumulating in some areas of the Northern Alps. Rising temperatures are causing unstable snow conditions, increasing the likelihood of avalanches and mudslides. 

In a separate incident on Wednesday, a mudslide occurred on the country road between Eben and Filzmoos, though no injuries or damage were reported.

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