The Höllentalklamm, popular with hikers, is located at the foot of the Zugspitze. You can climb Germany’s highest mountain through them. On Monday a tidal wave suddenly rushed through the gorge. There are several missing persons.
Grainau – A tidal wave carried away several people in the Höllentalklamm at the foot of the Zugspitze. The police said early Monday evening that a rescue operation by the mountain rescue service is currently underway to rescue people from the water.
Four to five people were rescued from the water, said police spokesman Stefan Sonntag. “You have to assume that people are still missing,” he said.
Heavy rain had triggered the tidal wave on Monday afternoon in the Höllentalklamm in the Zugspitz massif near Grainau in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.
Eyewitnesses reported that people could have gotten into the water, police spokesman said on Sunday. Apparently a bridge was torn away by the floods. According to the observers, there were hikers on this bridge.
The measures would now be coordinated at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen police station. In addition to several patrol vehicles from the region, a police helicopter had also been requested. Around 100 helpers are in action, it said. These include specially trained canyon rescuers from the mountain rescue service.
A year ago severe storms made the path through the Höllentalklamm impassable. A good 60 hikers got stuck at the Höllentalangerhütte and were ultimately flown out by helicopter.
The spectacular landscape of the Höllentalklamm near Garmisch-Partenkirchen with waterfalls and steep rock faces attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. The gorge was opened from 1902 to 1905. Alpine tourism was booming at that time. dpa
