Hungary, Slovakia Mobilize For Massive Flooding

(Vatican Radio) Deadly flooding across Central and Eastern Europe have forced emergency services to work around the clock trying to evacuate residents. While the situation remains critical in flooded villages and towns in the Czech Republic and Germany, both Slovakia and Hungary also declared states of emergency as the waters of the Danube river rose to record levels.


Though the threat of catastrophic flooding recedes in the capital Prague, nearby villages have been swamped by the river Vltava.


The flooding, which already left at least 17 people dead or missing across the region, caused especially havoc Wednesday in villages and towns north of Prague.

Some locals, who lived through devastating floods in 2002, refused to leave, explained the mayor of
Krivousy village, Jana Koberov. "The floods this year aren’t so devastating but we won’t be able to get to some the villages until next week,” she said.

LOSING HOME, AGAIN

For resident Eva Bittnerova flood defenses arrived too late, again. “We had just built our new house here in Zalezlice after the 2002 floods. Now that has been flooded we will have to start all over again,” Bitternova complained, close to tears.


There were also evacuations in neighboring Germany, including in Dresden, where the Elbe river was expected
to rise to a record nine meters.


Further eastwards, Slovakia and Hungary declared states of emergency as the waters of the Danube river rose towards the highest level in half a century.

Hungarian Prime Ministers Viktor Orbán said thousands of troops and water professionals will be involved in flood defenses.

Yet despite the effort, the lower embankments and several roads in and around the capital Budapest were already under water.

MORE FLOODING REPORTED

Hotels have been evacuated on Margaret Island, stretching 2.5 kilometers in the middle of the Danube river in central Budapest.

Flooding was also reported in other towns, including in nearby Esztergom, the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church, where dozens of people were brought to higher ground.

Police have also expressed concerns about possible looting in some areas of Budapest.

The flooding in Hungary and other Eastern European nations comes at a difficult time, as they are already struggling to keep their economies afloat amid a major economic crisis.


Listen: