Huge flood alert on river sections in Northern Hungary

Photo: MTI

Areas along the rivers Tisza, Bodrog, Takta and the estuary of the river Sajó in northern Hungary are on flood protection alert, the northern Hungarian water management directorate said on Monday.

First and second-degree flood alerts are in place along a 334km section, the organisation said. Water levels in the directorate’s operational area are generally receding or stagnating, with only the river Tisza‘s level rising slightly at Tiszapalkonya.

The Tisza’s water level in the Tokaj region has been receding since Sunday morning, having peaked at the Tiszalök hydroelectric power plant on Sunday afternoon. Water levels are still rising in the Tiszakeszi area but are expected to begin stagnating during the day.

Water levels are now receding along most sections of the Sajó, but are continuing to rise at the Kesznyeten floodgate, which is expected to be opened on Thursday or Friday.

Is Hungary a water-rich country?

Although Hungary is often referred to as a water-rich country, this is less true as a result of climate change and human interventions gone wrong, experts say. Without change, we will face significant challenges in agriculture, water management and even in the energy sector in the near future.

Boglárka O. Lakatos, a water researcher at the National Water Directorate General, said that drought, inland water and flooding can occur almost simultaneously in the same area in the same year.

“It is not right to refer to these as water hazards, because the essence of sustainable landscape management and adaptation is to use them and not to protect against them,”

Lakatos said.