Flood: Civil defense warning for Schwaz in Tyrol

2023-08-28 14:02:00

The reason was the rising water level on the Inn and the critical situation in the area of the stone bridge, said State Security Minister Astrid Mair (ÖVP) at a press conference. Otherwise, the country gave the all-clear for the most part. “We apparently got off with a black eye,” explained LH Anton Mattle (ÖVP).

Video recordings show the situation on Monday:

LH speaks of relaxation

One could speak of a “relaxation”, said the governor at the press conference convened at short notice in the country house. The heavy rains would apparently move faster “towards Salzburg” than originally thought. The heavy rain has stopped for the most part. Those responsible expected less precipitation for the rest of the day, ie on Tuesday night. But you still have to be careful.

The civil defense warning in Schwaz took the form of a constant, continuous tone lasting three minutes. Among other things, the population is asked to stay indoors in the areas most affected and to avoid unnecessary trips and walks.

Photo gallery: Flooding and flooding in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg

High water and flooding (Photo: R. EISMAYR (IKM)) Bild 1/26

view gallery

Focus shifts

In Tyrol there was a tense flood situation in parts of the country on Monday. The districts of Imst were mainly affected around noon, and above all the Ötztal, as well as the district of Innsbruck-Land. According to Geosphere and the country’s hydrographic service, the situation on the main Alpine ridge will remain precarious in the afternoon, and possible thunderstorms could exacerbate the situation.

The focus shifted in the course of the afternoon in the direction of the Zillertal Alps and East Tyrolean Tauern, said the country that had activated the state operations management. In East Tyrol there could be increased water levels in the upper part of the Isel. In addition, thunderstorms could further increase the intensity of precipitation. The crests or peaks were expected at the feeders of the Inn between noon and evening, in Innsbruck in the afternoon and in the lowlands on Tuesday night.

Flood: Schärding and Linz prepare

SCHÄRDING. “Special alarm plan Inn”: The first phase of flood protection was launched in Schärding on Monday afternoon.

Flood: Schärding and Linz prepare

All bridges in Sölden closed

The situation seemed to be particularly precarious in the Ötztal. The Ötztaler Ache, which had already burst its banks here and there, was expected to rise again. In the Ried district of Tumpen, 30 households with around 70 people had to be evacuated. They were accommodated in the local club and fire station.

In the well-known winter sports resort of Sölden in the rear of the Ötztal, all bridges were closed as a precaution. “Upper edge, lower lip” – this is how Sölden’s mayor Ernst Schöpf (ÖVP) summarized the water situation. But he is cautiously optimistic, there are always breaks in the rain. In the course of the afternoon, the situation should relax, said the local chief. It also apparently starts to snow at higher altitudes, which is an advantage for the flood situation. “I hope that the cheese will be eaten soon,” says Schöpf.

There were also fears in other valleys in Tyrol. Three houses were evacuated in Jerzens in the Pitztal. According to current information from Tinetz, there were also power supply interruptions in the valley. And in the Stubaital, the Ruetz burst its banks in several places. To date, however, there have been no major floods in local areas due to overflowing rivers or streams, according to the state fire brigade association.

Train traffic partially paralyzed

However, the persistent rain also led to road and rail closures. Due to a mudslide between Steinach in Tyrol and Brenner, the Brenner railway line was completely closed until Monday evening. A rail replacement service has been set up for S-Bahn and regional transport as well as long-distance transport, according to the ÖBB. In the Ötztal, the Ötztal Straße (B186) between Längenfeld and Sölden was closed.

In addition to this, the Pitztaler Landesstraße from Neurur in the municipality of St. Leonhard im Pitztal was closed on Monday morning. After a mudslide, the Brenner road (B182) from Matrei am Brenner was not passable, the same applied to the Stubaital road (B183) between Neder and Neustift in the Stubaital. Ranalter Straße (L232) between Neustift and Mutterbergalm was also not passable in the Stubaital. According to the ÖAMTC, there were obstructions on the road on the Lechtal Straße (B198) between Stanzach and Warth.

Hundred-year flood on the Inn

In the provincial capital of Innsbruck, people prepared for an emergency. Because the water levels in the upper reaches of the Inn had already reached a hundred-year high water level, the “Inn special alarm plan” for the market square area was activated until the Congress. The fire brigades set up flood protection, the Karwendel Bridge and the Emile-Béthouart-Steg were closed. The level of the Sill continued to rise in the morning and in some cases it overflowed at the Rapoldipark. Preventive measures were taken there in the morning hours. The flood protection was also installed at the level of the clinic and the university, said those responsible.

Schwaz “ready for the seriousness of the situation”

In the silver town of Schwaz, the stone bridge was closed as a precaution in the morning. The bridge – which is to be demolished and rebuilt from November – needs to be stabilized by embankment on the Inn wall. Wood is removed from the Inn with excavators to prevent blockages, said Mayor Victoria Weber (SPÖ) in a broadcast. The emergency services are ready and “prepare for the seriousness of the situation,” it said.

The “red” rain warning, the highest level, was issued for the Ötztal, Stubaital, Wipptal and the rear Zillertal on Monday morning. There is a “great risk of mudslides and landslides as well as floods”. The flood warning issued on Sunday along the entire course of the Inn and its tributaries in the Oberland, the Sill and the Ziller remained in effect. The state had announced that the levels of the Ötztaler Ache near Tumpen, the Krössbach and the Valserbach near in St. Jodok am Brenner had reached marks that occur every 30 years. “In Huben in the Ötztal, a HQ100 (hundred-year flood, note) has already been recorded on the Ötztaler Ache,” reported Elmar Rizzoli, head of the country’s center for crisis and disaster management.

The state of Tyrol appealed to the population to keep “a distance from bodies of water and flooded areas”. Rizzoli recommended “to keep an eye on the weather situation – especially in the affected areas – and to monitor the water levels”. These can be followed on Hydro Online at www.tirol.gv.at/hydro-online.