Below the Zugspitze lies the Höllentalklamm, which is popular with hikers. They can be used to climb Germany’s highest mountain. On Monday a tidal wave suddenly rushed through the gorge. There are missing people.
Grainau – A tidal wave carried away several people in the Höllentalklamm at the foot of the Zugspitze. According to the police, eight people were rescued from the water on Monday evening during a major operation. Two people are still missing.
Around 150 helpers from the fire brigade, mountain rescue service, water rescue service, rescue service and police were on duty near Grainau in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.
Heavy rain had triggered the tidal wave in the gorge over the course of Monday. Eyewitnesses reported that people could have gotten into the water, said police spokesman Stefan Sonntag. 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, said Sonntag. A police helicopter had also been requested. Among the many helpers were specially trained canyon rescuers from the mountain rescue service.
Some rescue workers stood on bridges on the Loisach to look for missing people. The Hammersbach flows into the Loisach and flows through the gorge of the Höllentalklamm.
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
