Austria has been hit by several mudslides causing significant damage, following heavy rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday June 29th. A civil protection alert has been issued and further rain is expected.

In Carinthia in southern Austria, heavy rain and thunderstorms have triggered several mudslides. The municipality of Treffen am Ossiacher See has been particularly badly affected, with large parts of the village destroyed.

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors as it is dangerous to be outside.

In the last 12 hours, 117 litres of rain have fallen per square metre. Of this, 74 litres fell in the space of an hour.

The situation on the ground remains tense as further heavy rains are expected to hit the region during the rest of the day.