Austrian Armed Forces in action

After the disaster in Thörl: soldiers are now moving in

In Thörl and in the neighboring community of Aflenz, the storm damage is still extensive.(Bild: BFVMZ)

At the beginning of the week, a call for help came from the Upper Styrian municipality of Thörl: the damage is still extensive after the storm disaster of the previous week. Now the Austrian Armed Forces are arriving with 15 soldiers.

Following the call for help from Thörl, the district administration of Bruck-Mürzzuschlag examined the situation and has now given the green light for the disaster operation in Thörl. From Thursday, two cutting teams of around 15 soldiers will clear the Feistringbach, which burst its banks last Wednesday and caused a devastating flood, from blockages. This will protect neighboring villages from further flooding and mudslides. The disaster relief operation is planned until next Wednesday.

80 soldiers deployed in the Voitsberg district
The Austrian Armed Forces have been deployed to numerous locations in Upper and Western Styria since the beginning of July. There are currently still 80 sappers in the Hirzmannsperre and Gößnitzgraben areas (Voitsberg district). Pioneer boats are being used to recover driftwood in the reservoir before it can lead to blockages. In addition, the tributaries of the reservoir are being cleared of damaged wood. This operation will probably continue until the weekend.

Soldiers already helped in June after the storm disaster in the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld district. In Kleinlungitz, pioneers erected a new bridge after the old one had been torn away by the floods.