Heavy rains – danger of landslides increases in Slovenia and Austria – News

  • There has been heavy rain and flooding in Slovenia in the past few days.
  • According to the authorities, the risk of landslides is now increasing.
  • The situation is also tense in neighboring Austria.

The high level of soil moisture is currently making landslides more likely, the Slovenian Geological Survey warns, according to the Slovenian news agency STA. He calls on the population to pay more attention to changes in the ground, buildings and slopes.

River levels are stabilizing to some extent

In the past few days, there has been heavy rainfall in the Eastern European country, killing three people. Because of the flooding on the Mur river after a dam burst, 500 people were evacuated from the village of Dolnja Bistrica in the east of the country on Saturday evening.

Because of the threat of landslides, 110 people were also brought to safety near Koroska Bela and along the Meza River near the Austrian border.

Poland also affected by the storm


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A severe thunderstorm with heavy rain hit northeastern Poland on Sunday night. According to the fire department, streets in the city of Olsztyn were 70 to 80 centimeters under water, as reported by the PAP agency. There were no injuries. Motorists in the region have been warned to be careful because roads could be damaged.

Meteorologists warned that rivers could burst their banks in north-eastern Poland due to the persistent rain. For Sunday, the Polish weather service expected thunderstorms and heavy rain in all parts of the country.

The level of the Mur, which has its source in Austria, has now stabilized. On the other hand, the level of the Sava, Slovenia’s largest river, fell.

Legend:

This slope in the village of Poljane slid on Saturday (05/08/23)

REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic

Last night, civil protection was deployed 230 times in a total of 186 locations. 137 firefighting units implemented protective measures against landslides and floods, pumped water from flooded buildings, removed fallen trees, rescued people from vulnerable buildings and delivered urgently needed food and medicine.

Danger of landslides is also increasing in Austria

In Austria, too, there is still no relaxation after the floods. The rain in the affected areas in the south of the country has decreased significantly since Saturday. However, several completely softened slopes were now in danger of slipping, as reported by the fire brigade. You also have to move out again and again to pump out flooded cellars, according to the spokesman for the fire brigade in the state of Carinthia, Hans-Jörg Rossbacher, on ORF radio.

Because of the threat of landslides, at least 40 houses and apartments in Carinthia were evacuated as a precaution. People stayed with others or in emergency shelters. The neighboring federal state of Styria, like Carinthia on the border with Slovenia, is also affected. The levels of most rivers and streams have dropped, with the exception of the Mura, which flows through Graz towards Slovenia.

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