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Europe floods: Hungary Danube set for record high | Europe floods: Hungary Danube set for record high |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hungarians have been warned to prepare for their country's worst floods ever as the Danube is set to reach record levels this weekend. | Hungarians have been warned to prepare for their country's worst floods ever as the Danube is set to reach record levels this weekend. |
"We are facing the worst floods of all time," said PM Viktor Orban. | "We are facing the worst floods of all time," said PM Viktor Orban. |
Europe's second longest river is set to hit unprecedented levels in the capital Budapest in the next few days. | Europe's second longest river is set to hit unprecedented levels in the capital Budapest in the next few days. |
A state of emergency has been declared, and thousands of volunteers worked overnight to reinforce the banks of the swelling river. | A state of emergency has been declared, and thousands of volunteers worked overnight to reinforce the banks of the swelling river. |
Water levels are set to reach reach 8.85m (29ft), some 25cm (10in) higher than the Danube's previous record high in 2006. | Water levels are set to reach reach 8.85m (29ft), some 25cm (10in) higher than the Danube's previous record high in 2006. |
Emergency workers have set up camps along the river as residents packed sandbags around their homes amid an atmosphere of concerned expectation, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest. | Emergency workers have set up camps along the river as residents packed sandbags around their homes amid an atmosphere of concerned expectation, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest. |
Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, tweeted: "Hungary well prepared for highest ever measured water levels on Danube. We are monitoring & ready to assist." | Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, tweeted: "Hungary well prepared for highest ever measured water levels on Danube. We are monitoring & ready to assist." |
Mass evacuations | |
Mr Orban, who spent the night at a military barracks in the flooded western city of Gyor, said recent dry weather in Austria and Germany, as well as a hot forecast for Hungary over the weekend, gave reason to hope that Europe's worst river floods for more than a decade could soon be over. | Mr Orban, who spent the night at a military barracks in the flooded western city of Gyor, said recent dry weather in Austria and Germany, as well as a hot forecast for Hungary over the weekend, gave reason to hope that Europe's worst river floods for more than a decade could soon be over. |
The Danube peaked on Thursday in the Slovak capital Bratislava, where the main flood defences held firm. | The Danube peaked on Thursday in the Slovak capital Bratislava, where the main flood defences held firm. |
In northern Germany, workers piled sandbags along the banks of the River Elbe as waters rose, after widespread flooding further south. | In northern Germany, workers piled sandbags along the banks of the River Elbe as waters rose, after widespread flooding further south. |
As flood waters receded to the south and east, defence work continued apace near Lueneburg in Lower Saxony. | As flood waters receded to the south and east, defence work continued apace near Lueneburg in Lower Saxony. |
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from at-risk areas in Germany, where the flooding is worse than that recorded in 2002. | Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from at-risk areas in Germany, where the flooding is worse than that recorded in 2002. |
On Thursday the Elbe flooded parts of Dresden as it peaked nearly 7m (22 feet) above its normal level, but the city's historic centre remained unscathed. | On Thursday the Elbe flooded parts of Dresden as it peaked nearly 7m (22 feet) above its normal level, but the city's historic centre remained unscathed. |
Upstream along the Elbe in the Czech Republic, emergency workers used boats to shuttle supplies to stranded people as large areas remained under water. | Upstream along the Elbe in the Czech Republic, emergency workers used boats to shuttle supplies to stranded people as large areas remained under water. |
Widespread flooding in central Europe has inundated swathes of Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, killing at least 15 people. | Widespread flooding in central Europe has inundated swathes of Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, killing at least 15 people. |