New storm front

Civil defense alert again in Western Styria

Another civil defense alert in the municipality of Krottendorf-Gaisfeld (here is a picture from the previous week)(Bild: FF Voitsberg)

The series of severe storms in Styria unfortunately continues on Friday. Caution is particularly high in the district of Voitsberg. A civil protection alert was issued for the municipalities of Edelschrott, Krottendorf-Gaisfeld and St. Martin am Wöllmißberg - but has since been lifted.

Thunderstorm fronts have been moving through Styria since the afternoon. The first hotspot was the Judenburg area, where there was a lot of flooding and fire department interventions. The Pölstal valley was particularly affected. According to a fire department spokesperson, there is currently no catastrophic damage. However, operations are still ongoing.

Civil defense alert in three municipalities
The district of Voitsberg is particularly in focus, especially three municipalities that were declared a disaster area the previous week: St. Martin am Wöllmißberg, Edelschrott and Krottendorf-Gaisfeld. Civil protection alerts were issued here due to the threat of flooding: The population was called upon to avoid cellars and underground garages and to seek safety.

Shortly before 7.30 p.m., area fire brigade commander Christian Leitgeb was able to cautiously give the all-clear: The predicted amounts of rain had fortunately not materialized and no fire department had yet had to be called out. Leitgeb hoped that the civil defense alert would be lifted soon. At 7.45 pm, the all-clear was actually given by the regional warning center!

No all-clear yet
The storms in Styria are only expected to subside during the course of the night. It will cool down on Saturday and heavy rainfall is possible again. There is no sign of the all-clear, and the emergency services, who are already working at the limit, are still fully stretched.

Hundreds of firefighters in Aflenz and Thörl also pitched in on Friday(Bild: BFVMZ)

More than 400 helpers in Aflenz and Thörl
For example in the two Upper Styrian communities of Thörl and Aflenz, where the storm disaster struck on Wednesday night. No fewer than 406 people were still working there on Friday to repair the damage. Firefighters from Mürzzuschlag, Knittelfeld, Radkersburg and Fürstenfeld arrived, as well as many private helpers.

Preventative work was also carried out: For example, 1000 sandbags are now ready in Bruck to be used in the event of renewed flooding. Slopes were secured with tarpaulins.