One dead: The tragic ramp collapse at the University of Vienna is celebrating its 30th anniversary

It was actually supposed to be a celebration at the start of the 1994 winter semester. But 30 years ago, on October 14th to be precise, a tragedy occurred at the University of Vienna. A ramp balustrade collapse causes one death and several people to be seriously and slightly injured. A historical review.

VIENNA/INNER CITY. It was one of the greatest tragedies in the recent history of the main building of the University of Vienna. On the evening of October 14, 1994, at a party organized by the University Students’ Union (ÖH), the balustrades of one of the entrance ramps collapsed.

Several people were hit by the falling debris. For a 20-year-old biology student, any help came too late. She died on the way to the hospital from a serious injury to her brain. Another six people were seriously injured and 16 were slightly injured.

The crowd was too big

At the time of the disaster, the ÖH’s “Semesterfest” was taking place in the main building of the university at the start of the winter semester, like every year. When the permitted number of 3,000 people was reached, the responsible authority imposed an entry ban. But the rush was significantly larger than previously expected.

Other people still tried to get into the building and therefore gathered in the entrance area. According to the fire brigade, who were notified by passengers with an emergency call, around 2,000 other people were recently believed to be on the ramp. They all wait in vain to be allowed inside the building.

And then it happened. The ramp’s balustrade could no longer withstand the onslaught and the great weight caused by the crowd. About 20 meters of the brick structure gave way and collapsed. As a result, stones and people who were thought to be on the ramp fell into the depths. But not only the people on the ramp, but also those standing below were injured in the collapse.

Ramp sufficiently tested

According to the Federal Buildings Directorate at the time, the ramp was said to have been regularly inspected by experts. Nevertheless, it was last structurally dismantled before it collapsed in 1964. 30 years had also passed between the last structural inspection and the disaster.

The responsible building supervisor was subsequently blamed for inadequate control of the balustrade. However, he was legally acquitted in 1995. The Supreme Court ruled that “no other balustrade would have withstood the great pressure.”

New construction

The project to permanently secure the two ramp balustrades started in July 1995. In the course of this, welded reinforcements made of stainless steel (Nirosta) that were invisible from the outside were installed in the balustrade. This is intended to prevent the wall parts from collapsing in the event of renewed failure.

A year later, the roof balustrade area of ​​the university’s main building was also additionally secured. A total of 1,045 meters of the structure were fitted with stainless steel brackets. The project was completed in 1998. However, the accident also had a lasting impact: Since then, the student union festival on the ramps of the university’s main building has no longer taken place.

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