Power failure in the Westerwald: Emergency measures on New Year's Day!

On New Year's morning 2025, the residents in the Upper Westerwaldkreis were surprised by a massive power failure. According to rhein-zeitung.de , the fire brigades held their tool houses to be taken for emergencies. The Katwarn emergency app raised the alarm several times and informed the population about the situation. Sirens also sounded to the alarm. Hours later it was given.

like swr3.de reported, the power failure began around 4:45 a.m. and concerned more than 30,000 households; At times it was even up to 40,000. The municipalities of Westerburg, Rennerod, Hachenburg and Bad Marienberg were particularly affected. The network operator suspects ice break as the cause of the power failure. At 1:45 p.m., the affected households could be supplied again.

experiences of those affected

The residents reacted differently to the unexpected darkness. Katja from Bad Marienberg tried to stay positive and cooked on a gas grill as she enveloped thick clothes. Volker reported that his 90-year-old father in Hachenburg was sitting in the dark and cold, but did not complain. Stefan from Newel also noticed that power failures also occurred in the Trier/Bitburg region. He started the day with candlelight and a FM radio.

The fire brigade also organized contact points for the citizens, including the Hotel Lindner, and helped on site. The Federal Office for Population Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK) provided tips on preparing for future power outages.