Environmental alarm in the Märkisches Kreis: 87 operations in 2025 - Active every weekend!

Environmental alarm in the Märkisches Kreis: 87 operations in 2025 - Active every weekend!

The environmental situation in the Märkischer Kreis is an issue that affects us all. Environmental authorities have set up a 24-hour on-call service to respond quickly to environmental threats. As the come-on.de reported, a total of 87 “environmental alarms” were registered in 2025, representing an increase of 11 alarms compared to the previous year. These alarms are triggered in the event of accidents, operational disruptions or other events that pose a danger to people and the environment.

The operations are coordinated in close cooperation with the police, fire brigade and local regulatory authorities. What is particularly alarming is that the most common causes of alarms in recent years have been accidents and technical defects in vehicles, which accounted for 37 percent of cases. Fires followed at 16 percent. During one of the operations there was even a fish death, a striking sign of how serious the situation is.

Diverse effects and usage statistics

Of the 87 missions in 2025, 23 took place on weekends or public holidays, while 42 missions were carried out during regular working hours and 22 after work hours. Interventions occurred most frequently in Halver (14 percent), followed by Lüdenscheid and Plettenberg (13 percent each). What is astonishing is that 82 percent of the operations took place outside of water protection areas, which increases the risk to the local environment and water supplies.

The speed and efficiency of these operations are of enormous importance in order to minimize acute risks to people, animals and the environment. After the alarm has been raised, the reporting head in the district control center in the Rosmart fire protection and rescue service center is contacted to coordinate the operations. Emergency measures, such as placing oil barriers in bodies of water, are part of the emergency plan that every environmental authority must put in place, such as the environment.nrw.de determines.

Legal requirements and compensation for damages

The legal framework is also important in order to hold those responsible accountable in the event of environmental damage. According to the information from the Federal Environment Agency A uniform liability law for environmental damage is being worked on. This harmonization is intended to ensure that environmental damage can be compensated for without direct harm to human health or property. The large number of existing regulations in Germany already shows how important a uniform approach is.

It remains to be hoped that through these measures and the constant vigilance of the environmental authorities in the Märkischer Kreis, environmental safety can be increased and future damage can be prevented. Every effort counts, and the cooperation of everyone involved is crucial.