On Saturday evening the peak of the climax wave on the Danube passed Budapest. As previously predicted by hydrologists, the water level was more than half a metre lower than during the record flood in 2013.
On Sunday morning the Danube in Hungarian of the capital is gradually and continuously declining. Despite this, the city still has restrictions related to flood risk. Some streets and tram lines remain closed.
The peak wave has passed Budapest. Mayor: It's not over yet
Burmistrz Budapest Gergely Karácsony During a late-night press conference, he confirmed that the city was coping very well with the flooding.
– The difficulty is behind us, but it's not over yet. We still have a lot of tasks ahead of us – he reminded the journalists present at the site. He also pointed out that the projects completed in recent years flood protection investments they are fulfilling their position, but the capital's authorities want to continue work related to flood protection.
The drinking water supply for Budapest residents is not at risk, and the vast majority capital city public transport is still available.
Flood in Hungary: 1.9 million sandbags on 760 kilometers
The situation in western Hungary is improving, where the Danube level has already dropped by several dozen centimeters. Hydrologists are also constantly monitoring the water level in the Litava river and in the emergency reservoir located along its course. At the moment, they are focusing on detecting and tracking phenomena such as seeping or soggy embankments and flood defenses.
The culminating wave on the Danube passes on Sunday morning through towns south of Budapest. In Kisapostag Despite intensive work, some residential buildings were still under water on Friday evening. However, local authorities are confident that once the water recedes, the flooded areas will be cleaned up by the end of next week.
As part of the construction of temporary flood protection measures, central and local authorities have laid close 1.9 million sandbags over a distance of nearly 760 km.
“Flood tourists”. Services appeal
The emergency services point out that the biggest problem for them at present is the so-called. flood tourists. It is about people who come to threatened areas because they want to see the scale of the disaster with their own eyes. On the one hand, they make it difficult to carry out security work, on the other hand, they often pose a threat to themselves and rescuers.
An example was the incident that took place on Friday evening in Tahitótfalu. There, two “flood tourists” decided to take a boat ride on the flooded Danube. When the boat capsized, one of them managed to swim to shore, while the other got stuck in a tree on the shore and had to be evacuated by firefighters.
There is also no shortage of people who decide to swim in the swollen river in the center of Budapest.