Austria Floods Recede, But Risk of Dam Failures and Landslides Persist
Floodwaters in Austria have begun to recede, but authorities warn that the danger is far from over, with continued risks of dam failures and landslides in affected areas. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of Lower Austria, emphasized on Tuesday that the situation remains precarious, and many residents are still without electricity.
On Monday, 21 dams in the eastern region breached due to severe flooding, and the clean-up efforts are expected to take weeks, if not months. Mikl-Leitner expressed concern over the immense human and financial toll, noting that the full scope of the damage has yet to be determined.
More than 270 roads remain closed, and 26 communities are cut off due to flooding. Emergency services have been actively working to rescue residents, with around 33,000 workers deployed over the past four days of continuous rainfall. Monday alone saw 626,000 emergency calls made via the authorities’ radio network, according to Deputy Prime Minister Stephan Pernkopf.
Four people have lost their lives in the floods, with the cause of death of one victim, whose body was recovered on Monday, still under investigation. The amount of rainfall recorded in eastern Austria was four to six times the monthly average for September, exacerbating the crisis.
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