Ton-heavy boulder crashes through roof of residential house in Starzach

Following the incident on Wednesday, an external structural engineer was brought in to assess the safety of the building. According to this assessment, it remains habitable. In the meantime, the roof is being covered with foil to prevent further damage from water ingress.

Securing the building and provisional sealing

The fire brigade and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) secured the boulder to prevent further damage to the house. When and how it can be recovered remains unclear. The fire brigade is investigating whether additional boulders could break loose from the slope.

Due to the dense vegetation on the slope, this work is proving difficult. Whether further houses are at risk therefore remained unclear for the time being. The slope will continue to be monitored.

Search for further loose boulders

The fire brigade is securing the building around the clock until it becomes clear how to proceed with the boulder and the unstable slope. According to the current state of knowledge, the residents of the house are able to remain living there.

Starzach is located around 50 kilometers southwest of Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg. The town belongs to the Tübingen district and is characterized by agriculturally used slopes and smaller residential areas.

Background: Starzach and the aftermath of the storm

The authorities announced that they will examine the slope more closely in the coming days, as soon as the weather conditions allow. A decision on whether and when the boulder can be recovered is only to be made after a geological assessment.

The police and the district administration office recommend that residents in comparable slope locations watch out for cracks in buildings, unusual noises, or changing embankments and report any suspicions.