Even two days after the devastating hailstorm, the fire brigade is still in continuous operation. It was one of the most violent storms the region has ever seen: several communities were so badly devastated by the hailstorm that around 80 percent of all buildings were damaged and not a pane remained whole. The police reports numerous traffic accidents with at least six people injured. Deer did not survive the rain, other animals, including storks, remained lying on the fields, some seriously injured.
The storm lasted less than ten minutes on Saturday evening – but the damage it caused cannot yet be foreseen.
In Lenggries, Kochel am See and Arzbach, most of the roofs have been repaired to such an extent that the fire brigade mission could be ended, explains district fire brigade spokesman Stefan Kießkalt. In the municipality of Benediktbeuern, however, the state of emergency was still in effect on Monday. Hardly any house there has an intact roof anymore, and the hailstones left countless holes in the outer facades. Also on Monday about 400 rescue workers worked through the incidents. It is still necessary to seal roofs and get water out of the buildings.
All the windows on the west front are broken and secured with makeshift foils, including those in the famous baroque hall (pictured).
(Photo: Claudia Koestler)
The hail did not spare the historic monastery of Benediktbeuern, a cultural center in Upper Bavaria. Pictures posted by the monastery on social media give an impression of the devastation. All the windows burst, roof panels were covered – and water ran into the buildings everywhere. So much broke that it will take a very long time to get everything out of the way. According to press spokeswoman Karin Birk, the damage cannot yet be quantified: “We are not yet finished with the inventory.”
Wind-blown roof tiles fill the courtyard of the monastery.
(Photo: Claudia Koestler/oh)
The west sides of the monastery are the hardest hit.
(Photo: Harry Wolfsbauer)
But the next problem is already lurking. There is concern that the penetrating water could endanger the statics – and continuous rain is forecast for the next few days. “Sometimes the water runs through the building like in a shower,” says Birk, describing the dramatic situation inside the monastery. Guests had to be brought to safety, parts of the facility are no longer safe to enter. The monastery is therefore closed until further notice. Repairing the damage could take years.
Everywhere in the Benediktbeuern monastery, windows have burst and roof panels have been removed. The damage cannot yet be quantified.
(Photo: Harry Wolfsbauer)
On Sunday, the helpers tried everything they could to secure the damaged roofs with tarpaulins against the rain. According to Birk, the basilica and the Anastasia chapel had top priority: “We’re trying to do our best to prevent the water from getting in. But there aren’t enough tarpaulins to do everything at the same time.” The basilica is now provisionally covered, now it’s the Anastasia chapel’s turn – and only then the Center for Environment and Culture (ZUK).
The storm also hit the Klosterbräustüberl.
(Photo: Harry Wolfsbauer/Harry Wolfsbauer)
Martin Schellerer and his family also felt the storm with full force. At around 9 p.m. he made an emergency call that all the windows in his house in Benediktbeuern were broken and water was getting in through the damaged roof. However, this could only be processed by the emergency services on Sunday after 2:30 p.m. Although the fire brigade took care of a roof window, sealing the roof was not a priority for them.
Schellerer criticizes the decision of District Administrator Josef Niedermaier (FW) not to have declared a disaster. Niedermeier justified his behavior with the fact that the coordination and organization of operations within the district and also thanks to the support of assistants from the surrounding neighboring municipalities work (here the detailed reasoning of the district administrator). “We don’t need a helicopter or drinking water, but we do need it Emergency roofs,” appeals Schellerer – and refers to Bad Bayersoien in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The district administrator there declared a disaster on Sunday, also to get emergency roofs from the entire area.