A peak wave is passing through Hungary on the Danube. Security work is underway in many places and in Budapest the construction of fortifications has been completed. The situation in Austria is changing, the state of natural disaster has been lifted in the first municipalities of Lower Austria.
The peak of the wave, which came from Austria, is passing through Hungarian territory on the Danube. It is the result of the heavy rains that Boris brought last week.
The river will reach its highest level in Komarom on Friday before noon and Esztergom on the same day at night. However, hydrologists’ predictions say it will be half a meter lower than the record year of 2013. In turn, the river level Lajty has already reached its maximum height and neighboring cities have been protected thanks to the opening of the emergency reservoir.
According to meteorologists, it is unlikely that there will be any rain in the Danube basin in the next five to six days. This, in turn, means that another wave of flooding should not be expected, although the water level in the river will drop very slowly.
About that the construction of fortifications in Budapest was completed. According to municipal authorities, temporary dams were placed along the Danube in necessary places, reaching a height of up to nine meters. In total, more than 650 employees of the Capital Sewage Plant and other companies were involved in the activities.
The threat of flooding has forced some institutions to take non-standard measures. For security reasons power plants have already turned off electricity in 150 cities. Almost 1,400 households remain preventively without access to electricity.
On the other hand Hungarian Post has organized early payment of pensions in all areas where flooding or flooding is expected. The institution’s action plan is constantly coordinated with the relevant municipalities so that their residents can know in good time where they can access post offices and pensions. So far, such actions have been carried out in 20 cities.
The state of natural disaster has been lifted in the first municipalities in Lower Austria. Major cleanup is already underway in many places. Landslides and mudslides remain a threat.
Lower Austria’s governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner announced on Thursday evening that the state of natural disaster was being lifted in parts of the region. This applies to seven districts and three cities. The entire Lower Austria was declared a disaster area on Sunday. The situation in the federal state remains difficult. Ten cities are still cut off from the outside world. 275 properties have been evacuated in the past 24 hours.
Problems with the supply of drinking water occur in 16 communes and with the disposal of sewage in eleven. However, we have managed to restore the supply of electricity to all families.
More than 3,500 firefighters are still involved in combating the floods and their effects. Along the Litava River alone, 10,000 sandbags have been placed and 300 tons of filling material have been dumped. The services have also removed 20 leaks, and special commissions have so far recorded 2,170 damages. However, it is known that this is not the final figure.
A major clean-up has already begun in many places. However, as Lower Austria’s governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner said on Thursday evening – reconstruction will require “perseverance.” Finances will also be a major challenge.
Much of the infrastructure, including sewage, water and sewage disposal systems, has been damaged or destroyed. The situation is similar when it comes to transport infrastructure. Local authorities describe the damage as “enormous”. After intensive clean-up work, they will gradually be opened to traffic.
The B3 motorway from Krems to Persenbieg and the B33 on the Melk – Aggsbach Dorf section have now been reopened. Authorities are also introducing systemic solutions to minimise the effects of damage. For example, a regulation was adopted which, with retroactive effect from 13 September to 12 October, exempts drivers from the obligation to comply with regulations on driving and rest times.
Waterlogged and unstable ground still poses a huge threat to local communities. Landslides and mudslides are occurring or are likely to occur in many places. This threat affects at least 40 cities.
