Power outage disrupts Kitzbühel care home for up to nine hours

A planned line replacement caused a complete power outage at the Kitzbühel care home on Monday, ORF reported. Mobile emergency generators are being used to keep the facility operating, while the Red Cross, the city fire brigade and disaster response services are helping care for residents.

The outage began in the morning and affected critical infrastructure including lifts, kitchens, telephones and emergency call systems. The situation is particularly difficult for bedridden residents who rely on specialised mattresses and oxygen supplies.

The outage is expected to last up to nine hours. The care home normally has its own backup generator, but the line replacement has left the building without any power.

A large generator was requested from the Tyrol provincial government in advance, and mobile power storage units were also provided. Emergency teams attempted to switch telephone systems, computers and other technical equipment to alternative supplies so the facility could continue operating as smoothly as possible.

Municipal emergency coordinator Alexander Gamper said the situation was not supposed to occur in this form. Officials hope residents will notice the disruption as little as possible. The operation is also intended to provide experience for a possible blackout affecting a wider area.