Due to severe weather in the Austrian state of Carinthia, in the south of the country, several areas were devastated by landslides and floods during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. The Red Cross reported that three villages were cut off from the outside world as a result. As someone died.
“Unfortunately, a resident was found dead outside his home,” a local police spokesman said. According to the Austrian news agency APA, the 82-year-old was swept away by powerful mudslides.
These currents also partially or completely swept through several houses and left a trail of destruction. The damage is worse around the town of Villach. Hurricane winds uprooted many trees. Electricity lines were smashed, roofs were blown off, and 6000 families lost power.
Rescue and military services are on site to evacuate residents. People are advised not to leave their homes and to climb as high as possible, eg on the first floor if possible.
“We’re working on several fronts at the same time,” says District Manager Bernd Rayban. We have sent several helicopters, but some farms are very remote. According to Rayban, many houses were also buried, but the exact number is not yet clear.
“In just a few hours, there was as much rain as in a normal June,” explains Gerard Hohenwarter of the Austrian weather service ZAMG. The water level is now higher than it was in the past 30 years. According to scientists, such extreme weather events will become more frequent in the future due to global warming.
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