Fire brigade rescues fish from nearly dry stream

Firefighters rescued a group of fish from the almost completely dried-up Mühlbach stream in Traiskirchen, a town in Baden district, on Saturday, ORF reported. The operation followed a woman’s call after she found the fish in shallow pools and feared they would suffocate.

During an inspection, the fire brigade found that the stream was carrying almost no water. Numerous fish were struggling to survive in the remaining pools, while some had already died.

As an immediate measure, firefighters diverted several thousand litres of fresh water into the affected section of the stream to raise oxygen levels and temporarily secure the water supply.

The emergency services also contacted the responsible fishing association, which carried out the remaining rescue and relocation work. The surviving fish were subsequently moved to safety.

Long-lasting dry weather has continued to affect Traiskirchen, despite isolated rain showers. Water levels in many rivers and streams remain low.