Budapest mayor Karácsony: Capital passes flood defence test

Budapest has “passed the flood defence test”, Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor, told a press conference held near the River Danube on Saturday.

Capital passes flood defence test

Karácsony said the river had peaked in Budapest and was now below morning levels. “We’re past the hard part, but it’s not over yet. We have lots of work ahead of us,” he added.

He said flood defence investments undertaken in recent years had held up well, adding that more projects were planned in future, in the north of the capital, with the support of European Union funding.

He praised the citizens of Budapest and the cooperation between the local government and state organisations. “It appears that in times like these, political disputes can be put aside,” he added.

Karácsony said flood restrictions would be lifted “as soon as possible”, but added that “safety comes first”.

The embankment roads may be re-opened in the second half of the coming week, he said in response to a question.

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