Worst flooding ‘in decade’ hits EU state’s capital (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
Storm Boris has inundated the Hungarian capital, Budapest, as it sweeps through Central and Eastern Europe
Heavy flooding has hit the Hungarian capital, Budapest, with the city bracing for what could become the worst deluge in over a decade.
The severe weather event named Storm Boris has ravaged Central and Eastern Europe in recent days, unleashing months’ worth of rainfall on parts of Hungary and other countries, and causing the Danube to burst its banks.
Residents of Budapest have been sharing photos and videos of the natural disaster on social media.
It's Thursday
— Liz Heflin (@liz_heflin) September 19, 2024
Budapest floods. pic.twitter.com/6OLLYtGwKU
I was born and raised in Budapest more than 50 years ago, and I have to say that a flood this bad is rare. Luckily, it is not negatively impacting #BudapestOlympiad because the playing venue is far away from the Danube. ????????
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) September 19, 2024
This is the current view of the river from my balcony.… pic.twitter.com/nNVo18nfsj
HU parlt prevails over sunny (25 degree Celsius expected on Wed) #Budapest as flood hits the country #flood #Hungary #árvíz #Danube pic.twitter.com/o1oc7PxQ80
— Aron Kuthi (@kuthiaron) September 18, 2024
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called the flooding one of the most significant challenges the country has faced.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Orban said the Danube is expected to peak at a height of 8.46 meters in the capital on Saturday, just short of the 8.91-meter record from 2013.
Nearly 10,000 workers and 15,000 volunteers have reportedly been reinforcing Budapest’s flood defenses with around a million sandbags.
The military has been assisting the flood relief efforts in the worst affected areas.
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Neighboring Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia have also been affected by severe weather and flooding. More than 20 people have lost their lives across the region.