Danube in Austria closed to shipping
Published: Tuesday, Sep 17th 2024, 16:40
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Following the heavy rainfall of the past few days, no ships are allowed to sail on the Austrian section of the Danube until further notice. This was announced by the Ministry for Climate Protection and Mobility.
Since the last flood weekend, sections of the river have been gradually closed. On Tuesday, navigation in the border area with Bavaria was finally also prohibited.
Snowmelt as a risk factor
Around 70 cargo ships and 70 passenger ships are currently stranded in Austria due to the lockdown. Most of the passengers have already been able to go ashore. On Tuesday, a solution was also found for the Swiss river cruiser "Thurgau Prestige". 102 passengers had to stay on board in Vienna over the past few days due to flooding. Now they too can leave the ship, it was announced.
The total closure of the Danube is in force because the high water levels are only falling slowly after the end of the continuous rain. Due to the rising temperatures, snow is now expected to melt in the mountains, according to the ministry. A further rise in the Danube is therefore to be feared. According to the authorities, it is not yet possible to estimate how long the driving ban will apply.
©Keystone/SDA
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