Severe weather on Friday prompted the deployment of around 700 emergency workers in Lower Austria.

The district of Hollabrunn was the hardest hit, with several roads closed and water levels rising up to one metre in some areas. Even the local fire station was not spared from flooding. The “Augustwiesn” festival in Hollabrunn was evacuated, and train services were suspended.

In a dramatic rescue, 22 horses were saved from a flooded riding stables in the town.

Around 50 fire brigades were engaged in over 105 operations late into the evening as the situation in the Hollabrunn area escalated. The crisis began at around 7:00 pm when a severe local storm unleashed over 80 millimetres of rainfall in a short span of time.

Clean-up operations are expected to continue for several days.

Meanwhile, in the Tyrolean districts of Landeck and Innsbruck-Land, heavy rainfall and flooding on Friday evening saw 350 personnel from fire brigades, mountain rescue teams and the Red Cross mobilised.

Efforts were concentrated on pumping out water from basements and garages and clearing debris from sedimentation basins to prevent further blockages.

With more rain forecast for the weekend, several roads remain closed, and the situation is being closely monitored.