Mountain rescuers arrive in Koroška, aid coming in from near-by countries

The Koroška mountain rescuers told the national association as their call finally came through on Monday that the situation was apocalyptic, as their rooms, equipment and vehicles were also destroyed in the floods that hit the country last weekend.

Regardless, rescuers got involved in relief efforts immediately. The Mountain Rescue Association requested helicopters to help evacuate people from the hardest-hit areas, and transport rescue equipment and the team of rescuers who will stay in Črna na Koroškem, where the situation is the most critical, for a couple of days.

The team includes two mountain rescuers who double as doctors and pilots, and several rescuers trained to fly helicopters. If necessary, the team will be replaced by new members in two days.

As more than a hundred firefighters and volunteers also arrived to help in Črna on Monday, the situation there is now slowly stabilising, according to the emergency headquarters in Črna.

Another 200 firefighters and some 30 soldiers are active in the municipality today. A team of combat engineers from Hungary is also on its way to take part in the inspection and setting up of temporary bridges.

Croatia also sent 17 soldiers and several construction machinery to the Savinja Valley today as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism after the country already provided potable water, dehumidifiers and helicopter assistance, especially in the north-east. Croatian charities also continue to help out.

A team from Germany has also arrived in the Upper Savinja Valley, said Janez Melanšek, commender of the Western Štajerska Civil Protection unit.

Two teams from Croatia and France are expected to arrive in Rečica ob Savinji today, and a team from Slovakia is expected in the coming days, Melanšek added.

While roads to Črna are open only for emergency vehicles, the supply of fuel to the town is running smoothly. The Luče municipality has been supplied through the Jezersko region for the past few days, while repairs works on the main road to it are expected to take months.

The mobile network of Telekom Slovenije, the country's main telecommunications provider, is again operational in the entire country.