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Outrage after the Ahrflood verdict: Orths continue to fight for justice!
The Orth family is fighting against the Koblenz public prosecutor's decision on the Ahr flood and is demanding responsibility for the victims.
Outrage after the Ahrflood verdict: Orths continue to fight for justice!
In a moving appeal, Ralph and Inka Orth, the parents of the tragically deceased Johanna Orth, protested against the decision of the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office to stop the investigation into the Ahr flood. The Orths see this decision as unfair, as they are sure that no one will be held responsible for the 135 victims. They criticize the failures in disaster control and the former district administrator Jürgen Pföhler, whom they accuse of having violated fundamental duties. “There were insufficient alarm and operational plans as well as warning and evacuation structures,” they emphasize in a press release. They do not see the unpredictability of the flood as the reason for the deadly consequences, but rather the incorrect or delayed warnings. In this context, they have one month to file a lawsuit with the Higher Regional Court (OLG) after their complaint against the discontinuation of the proceedings was rejected, as Blick aktuell reports.
The decision to stop the investigation, made by the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office, could have far-reaching consequences not only for the Orths, but also for many other survivors. The pressure on the judiciary is increasing as the public demands a trial against Pföhler from the surviving relatives. The situation remains tense, as a legal complaint procedure is currently underway, as the Rhein-Zeitung points out. However, the timing of an outcome from this procedure is unclear.
A revolt from the bereaved
The Orths are not alone in their fight. Many survivors have joined in criticizing the authorities' failures. Your request for clarification is directed directly at the public prosecutor's office: In your opinion, you should be forced to bring charges. The Orths also identify serious procedural errors on the part of the public prosecutor's office, including delayed access to files and ignoring independent reports. With so much incomprehension and frustration, it is clear that emotions are running high and the desire for justice is great.
But what now? The Orths have decided to initiate legal enforcement proceedings. They hope that the Higher Regional Court will finally draw the necessary conclusions and impose charges on the public prosecutor. For the Orth family and many others, there is a lot at stake: the hope for justice and the possibility of holding those responsible accountable for the predictable handling of the disaster.