The fatal accident occurred in St. Johann am Steinfelde. According to the police, several local youths met there in a field to shoot down ball bombs. However, one of the ball bombs may have detonated too early. The 18-year-old was probably in the immediate vicinity of the firecracker during the explosion and was therefore hit with full force. Another 18-year-old suffered severe head injuries and was flown to Graz with the rescue helicopter – more on this in noe.ORF.at.
In Upper Austria, a bullet bomb hit a 24-year-old in the face. On a dirt road, the man from the Innviertel detonated a category F4 ball bomb that he had bought in the Czech Republic. However, he made a mistake and placed them upside down. When he detonated the bomb, it detonated immediately. The 24-year-old suffered injuries to his face and was taken to the hospital in Ried im Innkreis by ambulance – more on ooe.ORF.at.
1,902 missions for the Vienna police
In Vienna, a 23-year-old woman suffered serious hand injuries when a firecracker exploded on the Kahlenberg. The paramedics from the professional rescue service provided the woman with emergency medical care and administered her painkillers. The patient was then taken to a clinic. In total, the Viennese rescue organizations were alerted 1,044 times, the fire brigade went out on more than 200 missions – more on this in wien.ORF.at
The Vienna police also had a lot to do. During an operation in Floridsdorf, the police confiscated 20 kilograms of pyrotechnics, including 250 category F4 items, according to the police. According to the Pyrotechnics Act, proof of specialist knowledge is required for the possession and use of category F4 pyrotechnic objects. In total, the police recorded 1,902 operations on New Year’s Eve – more on this in wien.ORF.at.
In Vorarlberg, seven people were injured when improperly handling fireworks. A man suffered the most serious injury in Fussach. A finger had to be amputated after a firecracker exploded in his hand. The fire brigade also had to be called out more often. In contrast to other years, this time the number of fire brigade operations was particularly high – more on this in vorarlberg.ORF.at.
Fireworks set off fire on Gaisberg
In Salzburg, the turn of the year was left out and celebrated peacefully for the most part. Especially in the city of Salzburg, numerous locals and tourists came to the center to watch the big fireworks. The Red Cross speaks nationwide of a “quiet” night. According to the police, there were a total of 14 reports of property damage in the city of Salzburg – more on that in salzburg.ORF.at.
However, fireworks are likely to have caused a fire on the Gaisberg in Salzburg. Around 8 p.m., undergrowth on the west side of the Gaisbergspitze caught fire, it quickly spread across the dry area and covered around 1,000 square meters. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and prevented them from spreading to trees. During an inspection of the fire area, the remains of pyrotechnic objects were found – more on this in salzburg.ORF.at.
Several fires in Tyrol and Burgenland
There were also numerous fires on the Tyrolean New Year’s Eve. Balconies, hedges or rubbish containers caught fire several times. A Norwegian was injured by a firecracker in Sölden. In Jochberg, four people had to be rescued from a steep stream bed – more on that in tirol.ORF.at.
A similar picture emerges in Burgenland. A tree burned in the Mattersburg district and a hedge in Oberwart. Nobody was injured. Fireworks at events, such as in front of Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, went off without incident, according to the executive. Seven people were reported for administrative violations under the Pyrotechnics Act. A total of one kilogram of pyrotechnic objects was secured – more on this in burgenland.ORF.at.
Carinthia and Styria quiet
In Carinthia, New Year’s Eve was quiet from the police’s point of view. However, two accidents were reported. The car of an intoxicated 23-year-old burned out after an accident in Bad Kleinkirchheim, and in Bad St. Leonhard an 81-year-old committed a hit-and-run without a driver’s license – more on this in kaernten.ORF.at.
In Styria, too, the night passed “without any particular incidents”, according to the police. During the celebrations in Graz, there were no major official acts, but there was a fire caused by pyrotechnic objects. In the Mürztal, two young people (17 and 14 years old) were injured when handling a firework rocket – more on this in steiermark.ORF.at.
