Stormfloden 1872

Although it was hit much harder along other coasts on the Sydhvas Islands, the storm surge in 1872 also had major consequences for Nysted and the surrounding area. Below is an excerpt:

The text is from: Stormfloden paa Lolland-Falster 1872 - Eyewitness accounts - Collected and published by Knud Hansen

Lolland: The eastern part of Lolland was not as exposed to the full force of the storm surge as Falster, as it was sheltered from the north-east wind; and furthermore the terrain there is somewhat higher than in Vestlolland.

Nysted: In Nysted itself, the lock was torn away, and the water penetrated and washed away a whole series of bridges and put the Pile Dam and the beach promenade under water, so that the residents had to flee neck and neck - most through the windows - and leave their belongings in the ditch. The harbor area was also under water, and timber and dinghies floated around among each other in a sinful confusion. Aalholm Park and the surrounding area were flooded, so the castle had to be abandoned.

On Rødsand beached a Brig “Alfred” of Swinemünde, led by Skipper H. Mau. Crew and cargo were rescued to Nysted.
It was impossible to bring help to the distressed farm at this time; A message was sent to Nysted for a dinghy, and in it some men sailed through the forest; but when they were going from the edge of the forest to the farm, the wave was still so strong that they had to give it up.