Heavy rainfall has led to sometimes dramatic flooding in Slovenia and Austria. Several villages are evacuated.
Intense rainfall in certain regions of Slovenia and southern Austria resulted in widespread flooding, severely impacting road traffic in the affected areas.
Following severe weather changes, a dam near Dolnja Bistrica on the Mur river in eastern Slovenia broke on Saturday evening, as reported by the Slovenian news agency STA. Ten villages are currently at risk, and authorities have undertaken evacuation operations to prevent any potential loss of life.
The exact number of people affected by the floods is yet to be determined. Head of civil protection, Srecko Sestan, emphasized the necessity of evacuation as a crucial measure to safeguard lives.
A helicopter and concrete blocks are being used in attempts to seal the damaged dam. Meanwhile, hydrologist Janez Polajnar reported that the water level of the Mur river near Graz, Austria, is still rising, creating an unpredictable situation.
In the aftermath of the storms and floods, the Slovenian police are investigating potential connections between the severe weather events and several deaths. Two Dutch climbers are believed to have died from a lightning strike in the mountains near Kranj, and five other Dutch nationals are reported missing in Slovenia. Moreover, 400 Dutch individuals had to evacuate a campsite due to the severity of the flooding.
In Kamnik, a town located 20 kilometers north of the capital Ljubljana, a woman lost her life, presumably due to the floods, according to the police. Additionally, the body of a man was found on the bank of the Sava River in Ljubljana, and authorities are investigating whether this death is related to the recent storm.
“Apocalypse of Truly Biblical Proportions”
According to a report by STA, Prime Minister Robert Golob described the recent situation in Slovenia as “potentially the most significant damage caused by a natural disaster in the country’s history since gaining independence in 1991.” The estimated cost of the destruction is likely to surpass 500 million euros, primarily affecting the infrastructure, including roads, energy facilities, and hundreds of residential buildings.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her support for Slovenia, describing the devastation as “heartbreaking” in a tweet. Janez Lenarcic, the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Protection, is set to hold discussions with the government in Ljubljana to address the situation on Saturday.
The landslide near the Austrian border in Dravograd on Saturday forced the rescue of 110 individuals, including 30 tourists, with another potential landslide threatening the area. Dravograd is at the confluence of three rivers: Drava, Meza, and Mislinja. Mayor Anton Preksavec described the situation there as an “apocalypse of truly biblical proportions.”
Slovenia has also experienced infrastructure damage, with at least three bridges collapsing and significant flooding on numerous motorways and country roads. Over the past 36 hours, civil protection has conducted more than 3,700 rescue operations across the country.
Amidst the chaos, people who sought refuge in trees or on rooftops were successfully rescued, and disaster relief efforts have provided food and aid to those isolated by the floods. Drinking water was delivered to several towns due to damaged water pipes caused by the floods, with tankers stepping in to provide essential supplies.
Parts of Austria also badly affected
Continuing rainfall persisted until Saturday night in southern Austria, where some areas were already inundated due to heavy rains. Despite the rain not being as severe as initially forecasted, the fire brigade and authorities refrained from giving the all-clear on Saturday morning.
In the southernmost federal states of Carinthia and Styria, the threat of further flooding loomed, necessitating the evacuation of campsites. The ORF radio station reported that over 2,500 firefighters and numerous soldiers were mobilized to respond to the situation.
Authorities raised concerns about two campsites, located at Lake Gösselsdorf and Lake Turner, which were at risk of flooding. To provide shelter, some campers sought refuge in nearby school buildings. On Friday evening, 70 households in the village of St. Paul im Lavanttal, Carinthia, were evacuated.
In a southern suburb of Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, a water retention basin was emptied to prevent overflowing. In Lavamünd, extensively waterlogged slopes posed a threat to residential structures.
As a precautionary measure, a retirement home in Leibnitz, Styria, was evacuated. Additionally, in another town, people had to be rescued from their homes by boat and safely transported to higher ground.
Significant traffic disruptions during the peak travel season
According to the Austrian automobile club ÖAMTC, numerous border crossings connecting Austria and Slovenia have been blocked due to heavy flooding and mud and debris avalanches. One affected area is the Loibl Pass, which experienced nearly 200 liters of rain per square meter on Friday night.
As a consequence of the disruptions, the main alternative route for holidaymakers heading south, the Karawanken Tunnel, has become congested. This tunnel is a significant traffic artery during the summer months, and traffic jams are common. The ÖAMTC advised travelers on their website to consider postponing journeys that involve passing through or to the north of Slovenia, if possible.
The forecast proved accurate as significant traffic jams were reported on Saturday morning, including in the Karawanken Tunnel on the A11. Additionally, the Slovenian A1 motorway, an essential transit route for many vacationers heading to Croatia, is also partially closed.
Reports suggest that the route between Maribor and Trieste is expected to remain partially interrupted until Sunday.
The state weather agency, Geosphere Austria, issued a warning about a low-pressure area over Italy, which may bring further heavy rainfall of up to 60 liters per square meter on Saturday.
Given the already saturated soil from previous rains, meteorologist Hannes Rieder anticipates more flooding and mudslides, especially in the southern regions of Austria. These mudslides can accumulate debris and other materials, exacerbating the situation.
Croatia puts emergency services on alert, additional rain is expected
According to index.hr, Croatia, the neighboring country of Slovenia, is making preparations for potential flooding caused by heavy rains in various parts of the nation. The Sava River, which originates from Slovenia and its tributaries, is projected to overflow into Croatian territory.
The peak of the tidal wave is anticipated on Saturday evening, and there have already been instances of people needing rescue. In the municipality of Brdovec, located close to the capital Zagreb, residents have been forced to evacuate their homes as they were already affected by the floods. As a preventive measure, civil protection teams in the northern regions around Varazdin and Karlovac have constructed sandbag barriers.
The impact is not limited to the mainland; parts of the Adriatic coast are also facing challenges. In Split, the storm and heavy rainfall have led to flooded streets, prompting the relocation of vehicles to safer areas and necessitating the pumping of water from basements.