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Oil slick on the Danube was stopped with booms

Aerial footage was used to track the oil’s movement.(Bild: LPD NÖ)

A large oil slick made its way downstream on the holiday: By setting up several booms, the blue-and-yellow Florianis were finally able to stop the large, environmentally hazardous oil slick just before Ybbs on the Danube.

Late Thursday morning, the Grein Fire Department (Upper Austria) was alerted to an environmental incident on the Danube. A passerby had reported a large oil slick via the emergency hotline. Upon arrival, the emergency crews immediately assessed the situation along the river and initiated initial response measures. 

Numerous fire departments were deployed downstream
Due to the extent of the pollution, additional fire departments were quickly called in. As the oily film made its way toward Lower Austria, major fire department operations took place there to prevent the oil from spreading further.

The last remnants of the oil slick “made it” this far: a barrier set up by the firefighters near Hirschenau, close to Ybbs, stopped them.(Bild: zVg)

Drones were used to specifically contain the oily film
With several barriers set up by the blue-and-yellow fire departments downstream to Hirschenau near Ybbs, even the last “remnant” of the water pollution was stopped. Drones were used to precisely track the path of the oil slicks, and the barriers were strategically deployed on the water’s surface to minimize the environmental risk as much as possible.

A wide-angle panoramic view of the last downstream oil barrier near Hirschenau.(Bild: zVg)

The cause of the environmental pollution is still under investigation
Police investigations are now in full swing. As reported by emergency responders, the pollution was most likely not caused by a Danube vessel, as these were immediately inspected.