Storm front triggers more than 30 callouts in northern Salzburg

A storm front swept across northern Salzburg on Friday evening, prompting more than 30 emergency callouts, ORF reported. Forecasters at GeoSphere Austria had previously warned of gusts reaching 80 to 90 kilometres per hour.

Firefighters began responding shortly after 6 p.m. in the Flachgau and Tennengau districts and parts of Salzburg city. According to the state emergency and warning centre, municipalities in Flachgau were affected most heavily, along with Adnet in Tennengau and parts of the provincial capital.

About 250 members of Salzburg’s professional and volunteer fire services attended the incidents, a centre spokesperson told ORF.

Most callouts involved fallen trees that had to be removed from roads, overhead lines and other power cables. No major damage or injuries had initially been reported.

Firefighters and water rescue teams also responded at Wolfgangsee and Wallersee, both in Flachgau, where several boats capsized. Stand-up paddleboarders and electric boats also got into difficulty. No one had been injured, according to the emergency centre.

The storm was easing and most emergency crews were returning, the centre said.