Hungarian settlements in danger near flooding river

Flood defences are being strengthened in four settlements in Zala County, in western Hungary, around the flooding River Mura, which is likely to peak on Monday night, the local disaster management authorities have said.

Volunteers have used thousands of sandbags and mobile barriers to protect local villages, according to the Zala County Disaster Management Directorate’s website.

The water level of the River Mura was 548 centimeters at Letenye on Monday afternoon, and it is expected to peak at midnight.

The highest water level previously measured at Letenye was 554 centimeters.

Flood defence work is under way in other parts of the country, too, after the water level on the River Dráva reached a record 491 centimeters at Őrtilos, in the south-west, 15 centimetres higher than the previous record, the national water management directorate (OVF) told MTI.

The river’s water level is expected to peak at the southern border village of Drávaszabolcs on Thursday, topping the 596 centimeter record measured in 1972, the OVF said.

The directorate said it was prepared to assign experts to oversee the flood protection efforts to settlements where the mayor deems it necessary.

Hungary sends help to flood-ravaged Slovenia

Hungary’s armed forces have sent two helicopters to assist relief efforts in Slovenia as the country battles one of the worst floods in its recent history, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Plans are for the Hungarian troops to deliver non-perishable food supplies and medicine to flooded areas within a 100km radius of the Slovenj Gradec airport in northern Slovenia, the ministry cited Colonel Tamás Bali, the commander in charge of the operation, as saying.

The two H145 helicopters can deliver some 700kg of food in one pass to those in need, the statement said.

The Hungarian Armed Forces are cooperating in their relief mission with the Slovenian authorities, Bali added.

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