Vandalism at the Watzmann! Mountain rescue services discover devastating damage

Vandalism at the Watzmann! Mountain rescue services discover devastating damage

On November 4th, 2025, the members of the Ramsau mountain rescue service were confronted with shocking vandalism damage during a routine check of their shelter hut on Watzmann-Hocheck. This inspection originally took place on All Saints Day simply to repair a reported hole in the hut. Instead, the emergency services encountered widespread wanton destruction, which caused great anger.

The mountain rescue service was on site with four emergency services and two police mountain guides from the Alpine task force. Already during the inspection it became clear that the damage was more serious than initially feared. In addition to the reported hole, they also discovered a badly damaged emergency room and massive damage to locks and windows. Particularly tragic: a padlock had to be opened to gain access, and broken windows caused further water damage to the building.

Damage and consequences

The assessment of the on-call manager Michael Renner suggests that this was the work of the same perpetrators who are also responsible for the other damage. The damage caused amounts to a four-digit amount, which the mountain rescue service now has to cover through repairs and material costs. This destruction not only endangers access to tools and equipment in an emergency, but also calls into question the safety of mountain rescue.

In particular, a window was broken in a publicly accessible shelter, the wooden wall of which is so badly damaged that it is unlikely to be repairable. The police have initiated an investigation into property damage and are asking the public for information about the perpetrators. These acts are not only reprehensible, they also have a direct impact on the safety and performance of the emergency services in the region.

The look forward

In these challenging times, it is important that the community stands together to condemn such incidents and ensure safety in the mountains. In order for mountain rescue to continue to work efficiently, feedback and support from the public are crucial. In particular, the protective processes in the mountains must be maintained in order to be able to save lives in the future.

For further information on current events and the situation in the mountains, it is worth taking a look at the reporting from Mercury.