Austria hit by flood ‘catastrophe’ - state premier
STORY: The floods killed one person, an 82-year-old pensioner a day earlier as several villages in the mountainous region near the borders with Italy and Slovenia are still cut off from the outside world.
Heike Baumhaker filmed her devastated property after the nearby river left its banks and flooded her garden and surrounding roads and fields:
“We were hit last night by the floods and all we could hear was a roaring sound, the electricity was gone and we obviously feared what would come next. This morning we saw the extend of the damage. Our property was submerged in water, still no electricity and waves as far as the eye reaches.”
Local officials said authorities were attempting to restore power as quickly as possible.
Carintha State Premier Peter Kaiser spoke to reporters:
“It is one of the worst catastrophes we have ever seen in our state. It shows the force of nature in a unique way. As terrible as it is, the loss of one life – and I am deeply sorry about that – is almost a miracle, that few people were hurt.”
Local Fire Department Commander Libert Pekoll said help is on it's way:
“We have reached all the farms cut off by the outside world by helicopter and we were able to take up contact with the people there. Everybody is doing well. In the area of Treffen and surroundings which I’m responsible for there is a large number of forces deployed, 300 yesterday and 200 today.”
More severe weather is expected for later on Thursday, according to the weather forecast.
