Heavy rain inundated the Alpine regions of Austria and flooded parts of Vienna over the weekend, leading to significant damage and disruptions to road and rail transport, according to authorities and local media. Videos on social media showed muddy water carrying cars through the St. Anton ski resort in western Austria. Meanwhile, record-breaking rainfall affected parts of Vienna in the east, reported state broadcaster ORF.
A woman was swept under a bus due to the force of the floodwaters in the Doebling area of the city on Saturday, as reported by ORF. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The fire services in Vienna responded to over 450 calls on Saturday due to the heavy downpours, which caused traffic disruptions and rail transport issues, according to ORF.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer acknowledged the extensive damage caused by the storms across many parts of Austria on X, expressing gratitude to the officials working on cleanup efforts. In Vienna's Doebling district, officials recorded 110 liters of rain per square meter, a record for August, according to ORF Vienna meteorologist Kevin Hebenstreit. Vienna experienced a significant portion of its typical summer rainfall within just one hour on Saturday, as per weather data firm UBIMET.
On average, Vienna receives 68 liters of rain per square meter in August, with the historical record standing at 139 liters on May 15, 1885, according to ORF.
