Snow: Power supply restored in the Murtal

The replacement for a collapsed high-voltage pylon was put into operation and households were reconnected to the power grid. “With the exception of a few households, the Murtal is now supplied with electricity again,” said Energie Steiermark spokesman Urs Harnik with relief.

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The damage caused by a collapsed high-voltage pylon in the Weißkirchen area (Murtal district) has been temporarily repaired for the time being, as Harnik explained. “We’ll definitely be busy with this for a while longer. The damage runs into the millions and it will certainly take weeks to fully repair it,” said Harnik.

School free for children in affected regions

Meanwhile, the Styrian Education Directorate has given pupils from the affected areas in the Murau and Murtal districts off school on Monday: “All pupils who are unable to reach school, for example due to the failure of the transport connection, are eligible “Excused the lessons tomorrow – this applies to both compulsory schools and federal schools,” the state’s communication said. However, the schools will generally be open, meaning that care will be provided at the locations.

The high-voltage power line mast in Weißkirchen near Judenburg collapsed due to the snow load. Individual cell phone stations had already failed on Saturday, which led to cell phone interruptions. The fire brigade armories and the Red Cross offices in the Murau and Judenburg fire departments had been set up as emergency contact points since Saturday evening. Parents of babies and young children were advised to visit relatives or friends outside the affected area if possible and not wait for power to be restored.

20,000 households in the Murtal without electricity

According to Energie Netze Steiermark, 268 transformer stations across Styria were down on Sunday morning. “We have brought 100 transformer stations back online,” said Energie Steiermark spokesman Urs Harnik in an interview. This means that around 20,000 households in the Murtal were still without electricity.

A team of 30 fitters have been working with the fire department since Saturday night in freezing temperatures to erect the temporary replacement lattice mast. The operation in snowy, sometimes impassable terrain was “immensely dangerous and challenging,” Harnik assessed the situation at lunchtime. A total of 120 Energie Steiermark employees worked to resolve the disruption.

“Emergency contact points have been set up”

Around 280 emergency services were deployed in the Murau district fire department on Sunday and have already worked through the night. Armories became emergency contact points where the population could charge cell phones, get tea and food and make emergency beds available, as Dieter Hahn from the Murau District Fire Brigade Association described.

“We have occupied all fire brigade facilities and set them up as emergency contact points. For example in Niederwölz or Neumarkt. There are two large halls there, where 100 people could each sleep on emergency beds if necessary,” explained Hahn. Tea and soup are served in the fire stations or can be prepared there. Paramedics were also on site. “The help is primarily used by older people,” said Hahn. 28 fire departments in the district are deployed, each with ten firefighters.

Cows milk with emergency generators

A senior citizens’ home was also equipped with emergency generators from the fire department. “We also help with emergency power generators when it comes to milking the cows,” as Hahn described.

The Red Cross was on duty on Sunday with increased emergency teams and supported the population. A nursing home in St. Lambrecht was evacuated on Sunday. Eleven people were taken to surrounding care facilities, and other residents were accommodated in the nearby Lambrechterhof, as the Red Cross summarized on Sunday afternoon.

In the Judenburg region – where the high-voltage pylon fell over – the fire brigades and Red Cross were also called upon on Sunday, said area commander Harald Schaden when asked. Nursing homes were approached and support was offered: “Fortunately, the people are doing well given the circumstances. They are composed and are accepting the situation well,” says Peter Hackl, district rescue commander for the Red Cross district of Judenburg.

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