Record-low groundwater levels affect Austria after dry April
Groundwater levels in Austria are at low or very low levels at around 70 percent of measuring points, according to Der Standard. Greenpeace warned that more than one in ten measuring points had reached a record low for late April.
Austria has just had one of its driest Aprils since 1858. In some places, less than 15 percent of the average rainfall fell, while seven provinces recorded deficits of up to minus 75 percent.
Upper Austria had the worst figures, with 36 percent of measuring points at their lowest level for this time of year. Salzburg followed with 26 percent and Carinthia with 19 percent.
READ ALSO: 'Achtung... Gefahr': What do Austria's weather warnings actually mean?
Three Russian embassy employees expelled from Austria
Three employees of the Russian embassy in Vienna have been expelled on suspicion of spying, according to ORF Vienna. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in mid-April after justice authorities sought to continue investigations into the three employees.
The case is linked to suspected Russian spy equipment on the roofs of the Russian embassy in Vienna’s third district and the Russian diplomatic settlement in Donaustadt. Russia did not agree to lift the employees’ immunity within a 14-day deadline, and the three Russian citizens have since left Austria.
Austria has expelled 14 Russian embassy employees since the start of the Ukraine war. Around 220 people remain accredited at Russian diplomatic missions in Austria.
READ ALSO: Is Austria’s capital Vienna really a 'city of spies'?
Education minister says German skills are Austria’s biggest school problem
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr said weak German skills are currently the most pressing problem in Austria’s education system, according to Die Presse. He said German support should start earlier in kindergarten and that 20 hours are often not enough for children with language deficits.
The comments followed recent Statistik Austria figures showing that one third of pupils in Deutschförderklassen do not manage to move on after one year. Wiederkehr said the support classes, introduced in 2018/19, needed more autonomy and that language acquisition was not optional.
He also defended plans for a six-year Volksschule pilot project, saying there had been strong interest from schools. On the planned headscarf ban for girls under 14, he said enforcement would begin in autumn after the current information phase.
READ ALSO: What will change in Austrian schools to help foreign children learn German
Search operation launched after person found in the Traisen
A major emergency operation took place in St. Pölten on Sunday evening after a witness said they had seen two children jump into the Traisen near the provincial government building, according to Kurier. Firefighters, police, water rescue teams and the Red Cross were sent to the scene shortly after 8 pm.
A young adult was found floating in the water and recovered. The person had to be resuscitated, while the search for a possible second person continued with divers, drones and a police helicopter.
By late evening, it was still unclear whether a second person had actually been in the river. Emergency teams continued searching at high intensity.
READ ALSO: How to keep safe and avoid problems when hiking in the Austrian Alps
What’s happening in Austria today
In Upper Austria, schools are affected by St. Florian’s Day, which is listed as a school-free Landespatron day.
The weather is mixed. GeoSphere Austria forecasts passing clouds and sunny spells, with local showers from midday mainly in the north and weak thunderstorms possible. Morning temperatures are expected at 6C to 13C, with afternoon highs between 18C and 27C.
Several transport disruptions are active today. ÖBB has planned works on multiple routes, the Vienna airport rail corridor has timetable changes, and Wiener Linien starts major works at Aumannplatz in Währing. On the roads, ASFINAG starts Luegbrücke resurfacing on the A13 Brenner motorway, while night works begin in the Semmering tunnel chain.
The Interior Ministry presents Austria’s 2025 Verfassungsschutzbericht at 10 am. At the Landesgericht Linz, a verdict is expected at 2 pm in the Finanzamt Braunau case, which concerns allegations linked to a senior tax-office appointment.
In Tyrol, district authorities have extended office hours until 6 pm for administrative errands, including passports, ID Austria, housing-subsidy advice and vaccinations.
Vienna’s Eurovision build-up continues, including the Museum of Science and Technology’s ESC special programme from 9 am to 5 pm and the new U-Bahn Stars pop-up stage at Urban-Loritz-Platz. In football, SCR Altach play RZ Pellets WAC at 6:30 pm, followed by LASK against SK Rapid at 8:30 pm.
Vocabulary
die Grundwasserstände – groundwater levels
der Verfassungsschutzbericht – state-protection report
die Deutschförderklassen – German support classes
die Volksschule – primary school
die Traisen – the River Traisen in Lower Austria
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.
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