Storm chaos in Vorarlberg: marquee collapses, rail traffic paralyzed!

Storm chaos in Vorarlberg: marquee collapses, rail traffic paralyzed!

After a severe storm in Vorarlberg, which began on June 15, 2025 at 5:45 p.m., there were considerable damage and massive disorders in public life. According to 5min collapsed a marquee in Gaißau, whereupon four people suffered slight injuries. The rescue and fire brigade control center (RfL) was busy checking whether other people were caught under the tent. The storm had recorded other communities such as Frastanz, Nenzing, Satteins, Fußach, Wolfurt, Rankweil and Andelsbuch.

The violent rainfall also led to trees overturning and flooding. In Bludenz, a fallen tree threatened to damage several vehicles. There was also flooding in Feldkirch, which made the traffic situation more difficult. On the railway line near Rankweil, a tree fell on the overhead line of the Lindau -Bludenz railway line, which led to the interruption of rail traffic between Rankweil and Götzis until 8 p.m.

extensive damage and rescue operations

according to reports from orf the events spoke up when over 30 liters of rain per square meter fell in just a few minutes, which led to serious damage in the region. The fire brigades in Vorarlberg recorded over 300 missions. In Hard, a lightning strike caused a fire in a sailboat, and the Kunsthaus Bregenz reported water entry. The estimated total damage in Vorarlberg amounts to around 1.2 million euros, with over 5,000 hectares of agricultural area being devastated in the districts of Dornbirn, Bregenz and Feldkirch.

in Carinthia there was also clearing work after storm damage, and in Lower Austria the fire brigades had to take care of 360 missions, especially in the Melk, Amstetten and Scheibbs districts. The damage in Lower Austria is estimated at around 900,000 euros in arable cultures and grassland.

climate change as the driver of extreme weather events

These devastating storms are part of a worrying trend. According to an analysis of bmvit , similar extreme weather events in 2023 have already caused damage of over one billion euros in Austria. Rémi Vrignaud, President of the Austrian Insurance Association (VVO), emphasizes that extreme weather events become new normality and that it is increasingly important due to climate change to take preventive measures against natural hazards.

The Geosphere Austria issued over 12,478 warnings of the highest warning levels for municipalities in Austria in 2023, which underlines the urgency and frequency of such extreme weather situations. A survey showed that 69% of Austrians fear the increase in natural disasters through climate change and 79% are willing to do without certain things to counteract this.