disaster

“Still cannot believe what happened” – Hungarian top model’s villa toasted in brutal LA fire – PHOTOS

Hungarian top model's house toasted in brutal LA fire

“It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of the recent fire that destroyed our property. It’s hard to find the words when you’re faced with something like this. The flames took so much, but we’re holding on to the memories that live on in our hearts”, Lívia Pillmann, a Hungarian top model writer, producer and award-winning actress, wrote on Instagram about the devastation. She also shared some shocking images, but does not blame anybody.

Hungarian top model’s house toasted in Malibu

According to the top model’s post, not only the entire house was destroyed, but also her car and the garden were covered in waste. “Devastation of the Palisades Fire. Still cannot believe what happened”, she wrote on Instagram. She shared many photos of her house and the garden.

“Swipe through these pictures to see the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength we find in the most difficult moments.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support. We’re taking it one day at a time and are incredibly grateful for the people who have surrounded us with care.”

According to her website, Lívia is not only a top model but also an award-winning actress, producer and writer. “Her acting skills, looks, and professionalism have quickly made her one of Hollywood’s freshest, exciting and unique talents”, the website’s introduction reads. In 2024, she starred with Kevin Spacey in a psychological thriller titled The Contract.

A Hungarian lady horseback rider conquering Hollywood

“Originally from Hungary, Livia has called Los Angeles home for the last six years. She began her ascent in Hollywood initially as an international top model who, besides gracing scores of magazine covers, has also appeared in dozens of commercials worldwide. During the course of the last years, she has focused on storytelling and honing her skills, including in martial arts, singing, weaponry and horseback riding.

Her passions outside of movies include inspiring others to succeed and to pursue their dreams. She volunteers most of her time and travels the globe to help mentor abused, young women and teaches them meditation and relaxation techniques. She is also the Ambassador for Protection4kids, a nonprofit organisation, focusing on combating violence against children. In December 2022, she spent two weeks in Nepal on a humanitarian mission teaching almost a hundred abused girls a relaxation technique that releases trauma and stress, called Access Bars and is currently producing a documentary that shares the personal plights of these children.”

At least ten people have already died in the wildfires, which have burned down thousands of buildings. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.

In a podcast, Mel Gibson, who also shared some shocking images about his gone home, slammed California governor Gavin Newsom for the devastation. He said Newsom claimed he was “going to take care of the forests” but “didn’t do anything”. “I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel,” the actor added.

Lívia Pillmann did not blame anybody for her losses.

Read also:

You would not believe these world-famous celebrities have Hungarian origins – check out our collection HERE
Fabulous 101-year-old Hungarian grandma has 3.8 million views on TikTok, even Paris Hilton likes her – VIDEO and more in THIS article

January 12, 2025

14 dead in terrible catastrophe in city populated by 11,000 Hungarians – VIDEO about what happened, PHOTOS

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has expressed the Hungarian government’s shock over a deadly accident at the train station in Novi Sad (Ujvidék), in Serbia. At least 14 people were killed in a concrete roof collapse at the railway station in Serbia’s northern city of Novi Sad, the country’s interior minister said. The terrible catastrophe happened yesterday.

Terrible catastrophe in Novi Sad

At least 14 people were killed and 30 injured when the roof of the Novi Sad train station collapsed. “We mourn the victims together with our Serbian friends and sympathise with those who lost their loved ones, and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured,” Szijjártó said on Facebook. He said he had expressed his sympathies to Marko Duric, his Serbian counterpart, on behalf of the Hungarian people after a phone call with Balint Pasztor, head of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians.

More than 6% of Novi Sad’s (Újvidék) population is still Hungarian, which is more than 11.5 thousand souls.

Terrible catastrophe in Novi Sad (Copy) — Photo: FB/Dr. Pásztor Bálint

Roof collapse at train station in Serbia kills at least 8

Rescue teams trying to pull 2 survivors out from debris, 2 others hospitalized, says Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. At least 14 people were killed in a concrete roof collapse at the railway station in Serbia’s northern city of Novi Sad, the country’s interior minister said on Friday. Two others were hospitalized, including one in serious condition, Ivica Dacic told reporters at the scene, the Anadolu Turkish news agency wrote.

He said eight bodies were pulled out, and eight others were injured. “Two are still under the ruins … We are working to pull them out alive,” Dacic added. The rescue teams, including over 80 rescuers from different cities, reached the scene immediately.

Terrible catastrophe in city populated by 11,000 Hungarians — Photo: Anadolu

“It is an extremely difficult operation that will certainly last several more hours. We will monitor the situation and inform you,” the minister said. Along with the interior minister, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, and Novi Sad mayor Milan Curic arrived at the train station.

The concrete canopy of the station building at the entrance collapsed and caused injuries, the Railway Infrastructure of Serbia announced earlier. A public prosecutor in Novi Sad is investigating the incident. Serving Serbia’s second-largest city, the station reopened in July after three years of renovation. Construction is still continuing in parts of the facility.

According to index.hu, the death toll rose to 14 by Friday afternoon.

Here’s a video:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

Dnevnik (@dnevnik.rs) által megosztott bejegyzés

Read also:

VIDEOS, PHOTOS: Adolescents swim in Danube floodwater near Parliament, disaster tourist’s life rescued
Hungarian economy minister: Government to support reconstruction of Miskolctapolca cave spa

Source: MTI, Anadolu

November 2, 2024

Hungarians in Florida, Carolinas collecting donations for Hungarians impacted by natural disasters

Local diaspora leaders said on Saturday that Hungarians living in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina have launched donation drives to help those impacted by natural disasters in the last three weeks.

Hungarians in Carolina

Zsuzsi Kozma, head of the Carolinas Hungarian Group (Karolinai Magyar Csoport), said several families had contacted the group after last month’s hurricane and floods.

She said the organisation had offered to donate 3,000 dollars to those impacted by the disasters, which was later doubled by small private donations. She said some Hungarians in North and South Carolina were still without internet, though they have had their power restored.

Hungarians in Florida

Meanwhile, over a dozen Hungarian organisations in Florida have launched a donation drive through the Hungarian Community Church for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

VIDEOS, PHOTOS: Adolescents swim in Danube floodwater near Parliament, disaster tourist’s life rescued

Three young people thought it was a good idea to swim in Danube floodwater in Budapest, near the Parliament during yesterday’s peaking. An expert says people swimming and bathing in the Danube may get diarrhoea, sepsis and other lethal diseases. Meanwhile, the river reached an illegal landfill spreading waste in South Budapest.

Youth swam in Danube floodwater near Parliament

We wrote in THIS article that the residents and tourists in Budapest were not in panic because of the historic flood peaking yesterday. Instead of keeping a distance from the Danube embankments, they swarmed around the river and tried to take as many photos and selfies of the flooding river as possible.

Budapest Danube floodwater Hungary news — Tram 4 on Margaret Bridge. Photo: MTI

Even though authorities and even Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of the Hungarian capital, raised attention to the dangers of going too close to the Danube, three youngsters thought it was a good idea to bathe in the floodwater. Multiple videos were taken of the dangerous bathing, and one of the commenters congratulated them for swimming in wastewater.

Below you may find two recordings:

@csincsibe 2024.09.20. #budapest #hungry #arviz #parlament #szeptember #duna #flooding #september #magyarorszag #swim #rakpart #danube #friday #autumn ♬ Theme from “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra

The crowd applauded the performance:

@csincsibe Válasz @krisztinnovk4 ♬ eredeti hang – Csilla Szabó

Flooding Danube may cause diarrhoea

According to András Késmárki, an ER medic, swimming, and bathing in the Danube is like submerging in wastewater. There may be bacteria causing deadly diseases like diarrhoea in the water. The most common consequence is stomach or intestinal infections, he told RTL Klub. That can even cause sepsis in the human body, which is why authorities must disinfect the flooded roads, gardens and wharves in Budapest and other affected settlements.

Disaster tourist’s life rescued

Disaster management workers, firefighters, members of the water police, and volunteers rescued the life of a disaster tourist in Tahitótfalu. Their boat capsized and a man was waiting for somebody to help him out from the storming Danube. The authorities were on the spot in minutes and could locate the individual needing their help in no time. The divers reached him and rescued him with a boat of the volunteer firefighters.

The disaster management authorities wrote that entering the flooded Danube without a life jacket and ignoring the prohibition is not only irresponsible but also life-threatening. HERE is the video of the action.

Divers saved a dam in Pilismarót

The flood damaged a dam in Pilismarót, a village North of Budapest, so divers had to rescue the settlement from being flooded. According to Szeretlek Magyarország, they strengthened the protective installation with bags full of stones. A crane carried the immense weight but the divers had to put the load into position. They shared a video about the action:

Illegal landfill flooded by the Danube in Budapest

The Danube reached an illegal landfill in Csepel, Budapest’s 21st district. In 2013, the water level was similarly high but the amount of waste was lower there, the electoral district leader of Former PM Gyurcsány’s Democratic Coalition told hvg.hu. A couple of days ago he and another politician of the DK talked to the authorities about the possible damage of the 1,500 m3 landfill to Budapest’s water base.

The Danube reached the territory by Saturday. Lénárd Borbély, the mayor of the district, wrote in a Facebook post that the illegal waste was placed on private properties and the Danube began to spread it, which will be a serious challenge after the water recedes.

Read also:

Flood in Hungary: Danube peaks in Budapest, gradual recession expected – read more HERE
Flood PHOTO REPORT: Hungary underwater

September 22, 2024

Hungarian town cut off, free calls, mobile internet and motorway: flood news round-up – UPDATED, VIDEO

Yesterday, the historic flood caused by Cyclone Boris from Austria arrived in Hungary, and the water level is rising quickly along the Danube. In Budapest, the river already deluged the lower Danube embankments, while in the Northern part of Szentendre Island, it enclosed a charming little town, Kisoroszi. The flood is threatening historic Budapest baths, Indian and Chinese Chess Olympiad participants may need to leave Margaret Island soon and a Hungarian settlement was flooded. Here are some photos of the historic Hungary flood.

A charming town on Szentendre Island is encircled by the Danube

According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, the Danube cut off Kisoroszi, a small and charming Hungarian town on the Northern tip of Szentendre Island. Authorities say the settlement will remain enclosed for 6-8 days. Csaba Molnár, the town’s mayor, said they introduced extraordinary measures to protect people and local infrastructure. He said the water level might reach 890 cm, just like in 2013. He added they prepared the townsfolk for the next 6-8 days. Food supply will be undisturbed, and they have medical and firefighter services in Kisoroszi. In a worst-case scenario, patients can be transported to hospitals with motorboats.

Kisoroszi prepared for the flood, based on the local government:

Meanwhile, Indian and Chinese participants of the Chess Olympiad may need to leave their Margaret Island hotels due to the rising water level in Budapest. According to Blikk, the two teams and the Hungarian women’s team may have to leave the Hotel Thermal and the Grand Hotel on the island. Authorities are prepared for the evacuation if necessary.

Flood in Hungary — Kisoroszi. Source: MTI

Fast-food restaurant closed due to the flood

In Vác, a McDonald’s unit had to close due to the flood. The place is already protected with sandbags, but it will not operate for an uncertain period. River Danube regularly floods the local Diadal Square and Budapesti Street in case of high water levels.

According to portfolio.hu, the Danube conquered the small settlement of Vének, close to Győr. The number of locals is around 200, who could leave it in time.

Here is a video:

Free calls, internet and motorway use

To help protection efforts, Magyar Telekom announced that they would provide 100 minutes or 15 GB of mobile internet for free to their users between 18 and 30 September. You may activate them by sending +SOS100PERC or +SOS15GB to 1414, and you may use the pack in the EU, including Hungary. Yettel is giving unlimited internet for its customers for five days if you send ARVIZ to 1744. You may activate it until 24 September, but the use is limited to Hungary.

Béla Juhász, the mayor of Sződliget, a town north of Budapest, announced that drivers can use motorway M2 freely because of the closure of main road nr 2.

Danube flood threatens several historic Budapest baths

The flood approaching Budapest along the Danube will affect several baths and spas, necessitating protection measures, Budapest Gyógyfürdői es Hévizei (BGYH), the company that operates the baths, said on Wednesday.

With Margaret Island threatened with inundation, the popular Palatinus bath on the island is now closed to the public, the company said. Staff there have begun implementing protection measures, including 24-hour monitoring of the 10-hectare site and measures to protect the 100-year-old wave pool, MTI wrote.

High water levels are also endangering the Gellárt, Rudas, Rác, Király and Lukács thermal baths, as well as the Pünkösdfürdő pool, BGYH said. Water pumps, mobile power generators and sandbags have been provided to help protect each site, it said.

Leitha reservoir opened with benefits clear to see

The authorities opened the River Leitha reservoir system at dawn, and its effect on the flood peak in the river section above Mosonmagyaróvár, near the Austrian border, is clear to see, the National Water Directorate (OVF) said on Wednesday.

Water has been released in a controlled manner, safely and with the right timing to the designated areas, according to the OVF statement. While the Danube flood wave is currently peaking in the area of Devin (Dévény) in Slovakia, the water level is expected to rise at the Danube bend for two more days, and construction of temporary defences is still underway there.

The river swelled to the lower banks in Budapest at 10 PM on Tuesday, and the peak here is expected at the end of the week. The directorate and its partner organisations, as well as volunteers, are continually building temporary protection systems along embankments and levees to prevent flooding in populated areas, the statement said, adding that dams were under huge pressure, with prolonged peaks expected in the days ahead. For this reason, the public is asked not to go to the dams to look at or take photos, the statement said.

MVM takes flood defence steps

MVM Group has started safety measures, in coordination with national and local authorities, at its gas and electricity networks affected by flooding, the state-owned energy company said on Wednesday. Gas and electricity could be shut off in some settlements along the Danube, MVM said. MVM will keep its customers informed of changes on their website HERE.

UPDATE: Government weighs impact of flooding on SMEs

The government could provide support to small businesses hit by flooding, Richárd Szabados, the National Economy Ministry’s state secretary for SMEs, said on Wednesday.
Flood defence is the immediate priority, but the impact of the flooding on SMEs is being gauged, Szabados said, consulting on flood defence efforts in Esztergom, in the north of the country.

He said business organisations had been urged at a meeting of the Business Development Council on Tuesday to conduct a rapid assessment of damages caused by the flooding to SMEs, including closures, inventory delivery stoppages and staff shortages. On the basis of feedback, the National Economy Ministry could recommend support for those SMEs to the government, if necessary, he added.

Read also:

Extreme flood reached Hungary: Danube bridge, border crossing closed, ferry service halted, train service changed – read more HERE
End of danger? Train service between Budapest and Vienna restarted – details in THIS article

Featured image: Vének near Győr underwater. Source: MTI

September 18, 2024

Hardest phase of flood protection under way, says Orbán

The hardest phase of flood protection, expected to last until next Thursday, is under way, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a press conference in Budapest.

The peak of the flood wave entered Hungary on Tuesday night, he said early on Wednesday, adding that the water authorities, disaster management, army, the interior ministry and volunteers will be working to protect areas affected by the flood wave from western parts of the country right until it passes from Hungary into Serbia.

“This period is the hardest part … it will last for about a week or eight days from today,” he said, adding that the peak of the flood wave at southern border was expected to flow beyond Hungarian territory next Thursday.

The flood wave on the Danube has reached Deveny, and the river is expected to peak at Budapest on Saturday afternoon-evening at 40-50cm lower than the 846cm historic high level, Orbán said.

The Leitha river is expected to peak at Mosonmagyarovar near the Austrian border on Thursday, at a record level, he said.

“We will do it!” – Orbán said in today’s press conference:

Flood defence operations on the Danube, Lajta (Leitha), Raba and Marcal rivers are under way along 544 kilometres, Orbán noted, adding that preparedness in areas under state protection was “at one hundred percent”.

Fully 4,392 people dispatched by the water and disaster management authorities, the police and prison services are participating currently in flood defences, Orbán said, noting that “the most difficult spots at the moment are Pilismarot, certain sections of highway 11 [in the north-west of the country] and Margaret Island and the Batthyany Square metro station in Budapest”. As certain sections of highway 11 cannot be protected, the operative body in charge of flood protection has decided to open detours, he added.

Water management experts are working to divert flood water leaking on to Margaret Island and the Batthyány Square metro station, Orbán said, adding that hopefully the latter would prevent the closure of the metro station.

Viktor Orbán Sándor Pintér Gergely Karácsony floods in Hungary flood protection — *PM Orbán, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, and Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony today morning on a status report in the Interior Ministry.* Photo: FB/Orbán

Flood defence work is ongoing at 12 primary state-managed spots on the Danube and Leitha’s sections at Mosonmagyarovar, with 39,335 sandbags placed already. Operations along defence lines managed by municipalities are under way at 31 primary spots, where most of the 1,421,500 sandbags prepared have been used, the prime minister said.

Orbán praises post-2013 decision to strengthen flood protection system

The government’s decision to implement flood protection developments and investments worth 435 billion forints (EUR 1.04bn) after the 2013 floods has resulted in “serious and important” gains, Orbán said on Wednesday, adding that additional protections in various locations were no longer necessary as the flood permanent defences were working well.

Orbán noted at a press briefing that developments worth 150 billion forints were carried out along the Danube, and now at several locations such as around Komarom, in western Hungary, volunteers were no longer needed to build temporary dams using sandbags.

Also, the decision to create a Danube diversion at Moson, inaugurated in 2022, had been a good one, he said. Here, floodwater is diverted away from the Danube branch in Moson, thereby protecting the city of Győr.

The prime minister said that once the current flood receded, it would be important to quickly strengthen flood protection systems around Esztergom. Also, as part of a 40 billion forint scheme, flood defences around the Szigetköz tributary are to be built, he noted.

Read also:

Extreme flood reached Hungary: Danube bridge, border crossing closed, ferry service halted, train service changed – read more HERE
Hungary flood crisis: 540 km defence effort mobilised amid near-record water levels – news roundup HERE

More news on the floods in Hungary HERE.

Featured image: Római Beach in Budapest.

September 18, 2024

Hungary flood crisis: 540 km defence effort mobilised amid near-record water levels – news roundup UPDATED

Flood warnings continue, with record near-record water levels in several places in Hungary:

Flood defence capabilities are a lot more developed than in 2013

Although Hungary is facing the biggest flood since the one in 2013 it has a lot more developed flood defence capabilities than eleven years ago, the parliamentary state secretary of the interior ministry told a press briefing on the flood situation on Tuesday.
The peak water levels are expected to exceed last week’s levels by 6-6.5 metres in the Szigetkoz, the Danube Bend and Budapest, Bence Rétvári said. Rivers will carry 400 percent more water at their peak this week, he said.

Since 2013, the country’s flood defence system has been significantly improved with 150 billion forints (EUR 380.4m) worth of development projects completed, he said. Those included the upgrade of dikes, the construction of facilities helping flood defence, building rainwater storages and a clean-up of riverbeds, Rétvári added.

He noted that defence operations were ongoing along a 390km river section and at 35 settlements coordinated by local mayors and supported by the disaster management and water management authorities. Police have dispatched officers to nine sites who arrange road closures and are also filling sandbags, Retvari added. He said schools, health-care and social institutions operate uninterrupted. “State leaders participating in flood defence have postponed all of their international obligations for as long as the situation is difficult at the dams,” Retvari said.

István Láng, the head of Hungary’s Water Management Directorate, said the Danube is forecast to peak at a level 30-50cm below the level of the 2013 flood. All of the affected municipalities have arranged for the setting up of dikes which are nearly half-way ready, he said, adding that they will be fully completed by the time the rivers peak.

The directorate has assigned an additional staff of 298 to be on duty along the 1,500km state-managed defence line, arranged for the delivery of 2 million sandbags and the distribution of more than 1 million sandbags to local governments, Lang said.

Leitha

He said the Leitha river is expected to peak at Mosonmagyaróvár on Wednesday night.

Danube

Láng added that the Danube is expected to peak at Szigetköz on Thursday morning, at Győr in the evening that day, at Komárom on Friday morning, and in Esztergom on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the river is expected to peak at Nyergesfalu in the early morning, at Vác later on, and in Budapest on Saturday evening.

As we wrote earlier, Cyclone Boris not only brought heavy rain, but also high winds and reached the ‘Hungarian sea’, details HERE.

Flood defence operation under way along 540 km

Flood defence operations are under way along 540 kilometres on Hungary’s rivers with the highest, third-degree alert in place along 200 kilometres, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

Viktor Orbán said in a video posted on Facebook that based on reports received in the morning the most serious situation had developed along the Leitha river.

“This necessitated a dispach of a staff of more than 800 experts from Hungary’s central regions to the west where those people are working in cooperation with Hungarian troops and are doing an excellent job,” Orbán said.

He said that currently there are 400 Hungarian soldiers working at the dams, adding that several thousand more troops stood ready to be deployed in 24 hours, if need be. “But for the time being we are able to tackle the situation with the manpower mobilised and with the help of enthusiastic volunteers,” the prime minister said.

PM approves opening of emergency reservoir along Leitha

PM Orbán on Tuesday inspected the flood defence work along the Leitha river where he and MP István Nagy were briefed on the protection efforts in the region by water and disaster management experts.

The prime minister gave his approval for opening the emergency reservoir between the Leitha’s main embankment and the left-bank channel. The opening of the emergency reservoir ensures that the water will not break through the primary defence lines and guarantees the safety of Mosonmagyaróvár and its residents, the statement said.

Later on Tuesday, Orbán visited the flood prevention works in Neszmély and Komárom, in north-western Hungary. He and Judit Bertalan Czunyi, the region’s MP, visited those building the defences on the Danube bank, Havasi said.

Budapest Fidesz calls for free public transport in Budapest during floods

Alexandra Szentkirályi, the leader of ruling Fidesz’s Budapest chapter, has called on the mayor of Budapest to ensure free use of the city’s public transport services during the closure of the embankments of the Danube due to the flood.

She said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that traffic in Budapest has slowed down due to flood protection measures.

“We ask Mayor Gergely Karácsony to arrange for allowing the public to use services operated by Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) free of charge and promote the use of public transportation means by car owners.”

Szentkirályi did not say whether the government would compensate for lost revenue during the period when public transport would be free in Budapest.

UPDATE: Budapest mayor says they are prepared for peak flood levels

Budapest is prepared to handle the Danube’s peak flood levels, Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor, has said, adding that all flood defence work will be completed by noon on Thursday.

The most intense flood defence work is being carried out along Nánási-Királyok Road in the third district, Margaret Island and the area around the Dagály baths at the northern Pest embankment, Karácsony said in a post on Facebook.

On Nanasi-Kiralyok Road, a clay levee is being built along several kilometres, the mayor said. On Margaret Island, 800,000 sandbags are being filled, he said, noting that the island has been closed to traffic from Margaret Bridge and will likely also be closed from the direction of Arpad Bridge. Meanwhile, a mobile dam will be built near the Dagaly baths, he added.

The bridges leading to Hajogyari Island will be closed and power to the island will be cut, Karácsony said.

The floods are also expected to cause delays in public transport, with the tram lines along the Danube being the main ones to be affected, he added.

Karácsony thanked those contributing to the flood protection efforts.

Read also – Extreme flood reached Hungary: Danube bridge, border crossing closed, ferry service halted, train service changed

Read more and latest news about floods in Hungary here.

September 17, 2024

Extreme flood reached Hungary: Danube bridge, border crossing closed, ferry service halted, train service changed

Storm Boris brought catastrophic floods to Central Europe, including Hungary’s Danube water system. Experts believe that Western parts like the Szigetköz and the settlements near River Leitha are in the greatest danger. Still, Budapest and other settlements also tirelessly prepare for extreme water levels. Based on the authorities’ decisions, parts of a Hungarian town may be deluged in case of emergency to prevent further damage. Meanwhile, a border crossing and a Danube bridge are already closed due to the flooding.

Danube to peak at 860 cm

According to portfolio.hu, Gabriella Siklós, a spokesperson of the General Directorate of Water Management, said locals in Western Hungary work to defend their settlements against the floodings caused by Storm Boris. She said all their crew work in the defence system at the rivers Danube and Leitha. She added that the Danube in Budapest is anticipated to peak on Saturday with 860 centimetres. In case of emergency, the General Directorate of Water Management will decide to let some water out, which may result in increased damages in some parts of Mosonmagyaróvár, she added.

According to 24.hu, the ferry commuting between Vác and Tahitótfalu will cease operation until Wednesday or Thursday. There, the Danube is expected to rise above 772 centimetres.

floods in Hungary flood Danube — Margaret Island, Budapest. The Northern section of the island will be closed from today for traffic and people. Photo: MTI

Border crossing, Danube bridge closed due to flood

A journalist team of index.hu could not cross the Hungarian-Slovakian border yesterday due to the flooding. The closure started at 1 PM yesterday. Attila Szegi, another spokesperson of the General Directorate of Water Management, highlighted that the water level will reach the bridge. Thus, his colleagues try to protect it with sandbags. However, a lot depends on the amount of precipitation falling in Austria. In Nagybajcs, authorities expect a peaking at 850 centimetres. If they are right, the Danube level would be 40-50 centimetres below the 2013 record level.

flood alert Hungary — Flood alert in Hungary. Photo: MTI

Train schedules changed

We wrote HERE that Hungary’s train connection with Vienna ceased to exist for days due to Boris. According to turizmus.com, ÖBB said the connections might be reestablished by 18 or 19 September. Furthermore, Metropol EN trains between Budapest, Warsaw and Berlin will not commute until 19 September. On 16 and 17 September, Metropol EuroNight (EN 476) will only commute to Breclav and back. You may reach Austria with GYSEV trains, but they only commute to Neufeld an der Leitha and Pamhagen. As a result, you cannot reach Vienna or even Neusiedl am See from Hungary.

floods in Hungary danube flood — In position. Pilismarót, Hungary. Photo: MTI

Here are two videos of the dangerous situation in Bratislava (Pozsony), where authorities expect peaking at 950 centimetres:

Flooding in Bratislava on 15/09/2024. 😞
Video: @bratislava_mobilom #weather #ThisIsSlovakia #povoden #zaplavy #pocasie #bratislava #flood #sad pic.twitter.com/hZUBn3X8Wh

— This Is Slovakia (@ThisIsSlovakia_) September 16, 2024

Výška hladiny Dunaja v Bratislave presiahla 900 centimetrov. Zatopené je nábrežie aj promenáda. #SITA #Bratislava #Dunaj #flood #weather #Danube #Donau #Slovakia

Viac na ▶▶▶ https://t.co/zMX9uTjKfC pic.twitter.com/HXEQ4VKWf1

— Sita.sk (@webnovinysk) September 16, 2024

But what is behind all these extremities?

Scientists keep warning about the dangers a changing climate poses for every country. In the case of the Carpathian Basin, researchers say the previously dominating Western winds weakened allowing Northern frosts and Southern heat to conquer the region. As a result, crops can get fatally damaged or similar weather anomalies can occur more frequently.

A week ago temperature maximums were broken. On Sunday, the 112-year-old Budapest minimum temperature and maximum wind record broke with only 9.4 degrees Celsius (48.92 degrees Fahrenheit) on the János hill, while in Siófok, the wind speed reached 105 km/h. Boris decimates the swallow population, as well.

Read also:

Floods in Hungary, latest: Orbán postpones all international trips, near-record flooding expected, levee with 1,000 tonnes of rocks – photos and more in THIS article
Important: Budapest floods disrupt tram and bus services, cause road closures

September 17, 2024

Why aren’t Hungary’s soldiers helping flood protection? – Here is the minister’s answer

Péter Magyar, the leader of the Hungarian opposition, blamed the Hungarian government for not deploying enough soldiers on the dams to help with flood protection. Here is the defence minister’s answer.

Hungary deploying as many soldiers as necessary to aid defence work

As many as 1,400 soldiers are assisting flood protection efforts in Hungary, but the military is prepared to deploy as many service members as necessary, the defence minister said on Tuesday morning.

Troops are working day and night along the Danube and are also present in the Mosonmagyaróvár area in the northwest and at two localities in Komarom-Esztergom County in the north, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, according to a ministry statement.

Soldiers are also being deployed to other towns and villages, he said.

Why aren't Hungary's soldiers helping flood protection (Copy) — *Péter Magyar believes there should be more soldiers on the dams. Photo: FB/Magyar Péter*

“The Hungarian Armed Forces is providing assistance in handling the situation caused by the floods as requested by the counties,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

The military is using PTS-M tracked amphibious vehicles as well as H145M helicopters in the defence work, the minister said, adding that plans are to deploy professional, contract and reservist troops to aid with the protection efforts.

Péter Magyar slammed the defence minister for deploying only 1,400 soldiers. He wrote in a Facebook post that the Hungarian government talked about mobilising thousands. Once, the number mentioned by officials was 17 thousand. Furthermore, he said the government runs late to mobilise volunteer reservists since they have until 19 September to respond and will participate in the flood protection efforts only after the peaking of the Danube in several regions.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky called Magyar a liar.

Read also:

Important: Budapest floods disrupt tram and bus services, cause road closures – read more HERE
Floods in Hungary, latest: Orbán postpones all international trips, near-record flooding expected, levee with 1,000 tonnes of rocks – photos and more in THIS article

September 17, 2024

Hungary activated IPCR crisis response mechanism

Hungary, as the president of the Council of the European Union, on Monday activated the EU’s integrated political crisis response (IPCR) mechanism, the minister in charge of EU affairs said.

János Bóka said on Facebook that the mechanism enabled central European member states severely affected by the extreme weather conditions and flooding to coordinate protection tasks.

He added that the affected member states could also decide how the EU can most effectively help them carry out their tasks.

The activation of the mechanism was needed because unprecedented severe weather conditions have resulted in extreme floods in several states including Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, Bóka said. Several of these countries have announced a state of emergency, he added.

A coordination centre will meet on Tuesday morning and its work will enable experts to monitor the flood situation and specify the support needed, and generally coordinate with EU institutions, Bóka said.

The Hungarian presidency is ready to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism if the member states express a need for it, he said.

As we wrote earlier, Orbán postpones all international trips, near-record flooding is expected, and a levee with 1,000 tonnes of rocks; details and photos are here.

Read here the latest articles about floods in Hungary.

September 16, 2024

Hungarian Defence Forces contribute 12,000 soldiers, helicopters and volunteers to flood protection

Preparations for flood protection have reached “one hundred percent” across the entirety of Hungary, the interior minister said on Monday.

Sándor Pintér told a press conference that measures implemented so far will ensure that the water of the Danube river can be confined and kept between its barriers.

He said that for other rivers,

the measures may include temporarily opening reservoirs to protect residents, their property, and their land from flood water.

Protection operations are carried out with the participation of water management authorities, the armed forces, police, prison management and the national disaster management chief directorate, Pintér said, adding that municipalities and the ambulance services were also on alert.

Meanwhile, the prime minister has convened the operative body for flood protection, the minister said, adding that its work was coordinated by the national disaster management authority backed by national water management authority providing expertise.

The Hungarian army is also participating in flood protection with 12,000 people, equipment including helicopters and convicts who volunteer, he said.

Pintér asked municipalities to set up flood defence committees, adding that sandbags, vehicles and other equipment would be provided by the central operative body.

The flood situation will be evaluated early in the morning on the basis of overnight data every day and steps will be taken accordingly, he said.

As we wrote today, a third-degree, highest-level flood alert is in effect along all sections of the Danube in Budapest from Monday, details HERE.

Government supporting local councils in flood defence

The parliamentary state secretary of the interior ministry said on Monday that the state is providing local councils with professional, logistical, material, and financial assistance in their flood protection efforts.

The state is providing multiple forms of assistance to every locality defending against the flood, Bence Rétvári told a press conference. Each locality has been assigned an expert from the water management authority with extensive knowledge on flood protection who will help organise the defence work, he said.

He added that each locality has a liaison officer from the disaster management authority to ensure the supply of necessary materials, such as sandbags.

The state secretary said the force majeure fund will cover the localities’ flood protection costs.

Read more and the latest news about floods in Hungary here.

read also: Flood alert disrupts international train services, trains between Budapest and Vienna cancelled

September 16, 2024

Highest-level flood alert in effect in Budapest – UPDATE

A third-degree, highest-level flood alert is in effect along all sections of the Danube in Budapest from Monday, Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor, has said.

Water management experts conducted a range of protective measures over the weekend which included closing off vents and sluice gates, preparing water production facilities for safe flood operations and putting moorings in place, he said on Facebook.

The mayor noted that the embankments on both sides of the Danube will be closed to traffic from 8 pm on Monday, and the owners of the cars parked there have been asked to move their vehicles.

According to forecasts, the Danube will reach the lower embankment on Tuesday morning, he said.

Meanwhile, the Budapest water works, the disaster management authority, and subcontractors assisting the defence work will make one million sand bags available, approximately 800,000 of which will be used on Margaret Island.

He added that to ensure the smooth operation of protection efforts, the island’s protected zone will be closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic will also be restricted from 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Traffic restrictions will also apply on Nanasi and Kiralyok Road in northern Buda because of the delivery of the materials needed for the four-kilometer clay dyke being built there, the mayor said.

As we wrote yesterday, a flood alert disrupted international train services, and trains between Budapest and Vienna were canceled. Read details HERE.

As we wrote earlier, a Major flood protection alert was declared in Budapest amid rising Danube levels, and roads were closed. Read details HERE.

PM Orbán convenes operative body for flood protection

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened a meeting of the operative body responsible for flood protection early on Monday morning.

The head of each state body involved in flood protection operations briefed the operative body. They then determined the most urgent tasks and approved the flood protection plans for the coming days.

Orbán affirmed that all the technical and financial resources needed for the protection efforts are in place.

UPDATE

Orbán briefs President Sulyok about the flood

PM Orbán met President Tamás Sulyok in the morning to brief him about the current status of flood defence operations.

Orban briefs president Sulyok about flood. Photo: MTI

Orban and Sulyok agreed to stay in constant contact in the most critical days of the defence work. They also agreed that the prime minister would provide the president with regular updates on the work completed by state organisations and emergency measures required.

September 16, 2024

Attention: Major flood protection alert declared in Budapest amid rising Danube levels, roads closed

A major flood protection alert has been declared in Budapest. According to the latest forecasts, the Danube’s water level is expected to rise by one meter each day starting Monday. Projections indicate that the river could peak in the latter half of next week, with water levels exceeding 8 meters. Given this significant rise, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony has announced a third-degree flood protection alert for all Budapest sections of the river, starting at midnight on Monday, 16 September, as stated by the Mayor’s Office.

According to an article by Portfolio, the Municipal Sewage Works (Fővárosi Csatornázási Művek, FCSM), responsible for flood defences, will begin closing the flood gates along the Nánási-Királyok Road defence line and constructing a four-kilometre-long clay embankment starting Monday.

Due to this temporary barrier, Királyok Road will be closed to traffic.

On Margaret Island, especially in its lower-lying areas, flood defences will be reinforced with sandbags. FCSM will use high-capacity machinery for this, drawing on experience from the 2013 flood defence efforts.

If the situation worsens, Margaret Island may also be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic by mid-next week.

The lower embankments on the Pest side are expected to flood by Tuesday, September 17. Some sections, already closed for an event over the weekend, will remain shut until the floodwaters recede. Additionally, Budapest Road Management (Budapest Közút) will fully close the remaining Pest embankments and all of the Buda lower embankments from 8 PM on Monday, 16 September.

Parking on the embankments has already been banned as of midnight today. Any vehicles left there will be towed away by the city’s Law Enforcement Directorate (Fővárosi Önkormányzati Rendészeti Igazgatóság) on Monday.

Meanwhile, Budapest Waterworks (Fővárosi Vízművek) is taking necessary precautions to ensure that the rising Danube does not disrupt the city’s drinking water supply. They have begun intensified inspections of wells, pump houses, and machinery to ensure continued safe operation despite the rising water levels, Portfolio reports. The quality of drinking water is being continuously monitored by the company’s laboratories.

Public transport in areas close to the river will likely face restrictions by mid-next week, depending on how the situation develops. Experts will determine the specific extent of these disruptions early next week, according to the Mayor’s Office.

Read also:

UPDATE

16 September, 2024. Highest-level flood alert in effect in Budapest

UPDATE 2

Read more and latest news about floods in Hungary here.

September 14, 2024

Orbán cabinet claims they are ready for the overwhelming flood approaching Hungary – VIDEO

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday visited sites along the River Danube at the border of Budapest and Pest County to check flood protection preparations after recent heavy rains, his press chief said.

Bertalan Havasi said Orbán had been briefed by water management experts and Energy Ministry officials in charge of flood protection about projected water levels and necessary measures for the whole of Hungary.

Hungarian army prepared for flood protection, says minister

The Hungarian army stands ready to help with flood protection operations if need be, Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said on Friday. According to the meteorological services, heavy rains between 50-220 millimetres are expected to trigger floods on the Danube, Mura, Lajta and Raba rivers in Hungary, Austria and Czechia over the next couple of days.

The army’s units assigned to participate in flood defence were put on alert and started conducting drills on Friday morning and the necessary communication channels with regional defence committees have been activated, defence minister said in a statement.

We’re prepared, says Orbán in a Facebook post:

It cited army chief Gábor Böröndi as saying that in line with the disaster management action plan, the army was ready to respond fast and effectively contribute to flood protection operations by ensuring personnel and technical conditions.

“Our resources including land and areal technical equipment will provide for the public’s protection,” he said.

Flood alert issued for Budapest

Based on forecasts by the national water-level service, Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, has issued a second-degree flood alert along all flood protection sections of the River Danube in the capital, the mayor’s office said on Friday. The lower embankment of the Danube is expected to be closed to traffic from next Monday, the statement said. Starting from midnight on Friday, parking will be prohibited in the area, it added.

The Danube’s water level is expected to peak at around 8 metres in the second half of next week, the statement said.

Weather forecast for Saturday

Generally overcast and rainy with stormy winds in places. Lows: 6, 13 °C. Highs: 10, 17 °C.

Read also:

Exceptional rainfall expected to affect the Danube in Austria and Hungary in the coming days – read more HERE
The most horrid floods in Hungarian history

September 14, 2024

Hungarian government to continue supporting local councils in disaster response

The government will continue supporting local councils in strengthening their defences against natural disasters, the minister of public administration and regional development said on Monday.

The government currently provides half a billion forints (EUR 1.3m) to 34 local councils to bolster their defences against natural disasters and for post-disaster cleanups, Tibor Navracsics said at an event where he handed over Force Majeure support certificates to local council leaders and mayors.

The minister said the government trusted it could strengthen partnerships with councils with the aim of providing better protections to locals.

Most recent natural disasters in Hungary have been caused by storms, downpours, hail and floods, the ministry said in a statement.

Breaking – Forest fire near Budapest Airport

The forest between Gyömrői Street and Csévéző Street caught fire in Budapest’s 18th district. The National Directorate General for Disaster Management said they stopped the fire from spreading.

According to index.hu, the flame consumed at least one hectare. Several units of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management (Katasztrófavédelem) were extinguishing the fire.

A deputy mayor of the district, László Petrovai, said the fire broke out in the protection forest of Csévéző Street. Petrovai said the undergrowth was in flames on three hectares. The deputy mayor added that volunteers from multiple districts rushed there to assist their professional colleagues.

A third-degree heat alert and fire ban is currently in effect in Hungary.

Ádám Kiss, a deputy spokesperson of the Disaster Management, said the undergrowth was aflame on 1.5 hectares in the 18th district, and firefighters baulked the spread of the flames.

Read also:

Danger of heatstroke high today: records may break, drought rages in Hungary – details in THIS article
PHOTOS: Hungarian Olympic team arrives home with a special golden Wizz Air plane

Featured image: illustration, video made in 2022

August 14, 2024

Hungarian firefighters join action in North Macedonia wildfires – PHOTOS

Hungarian firefighters have joined an operation to fight wildfires in a national park in Breznica, North Macedonia, where they are involved in the efforts to protect the buildings of a village at an altitude of 1,200 metres, the national disaster management authority said on Friday.

The authority said on its website that the Hungarian team of 46 people and 13 vehicles had arrived in Skopje after midnight on Thursday. Following a few hours of rest, six members of the team moved to the base of the North Macedonia Protection and Rescue Directorate to coordinate activities with the rest of the team, and local and other international firefighters. The remaining 40 people and 9 vehicles travelled to Breznica where they joined the operations cutting trees in an effort to stop the spread of the wildfire to buildings.

Hungarian firefighters join action in North Macedonia wildfires — Photo: National Disaster Management Authority

No extraordinary events have been reported so far, with all members of the Hungarian team getting medical support from an ambulance officer and two assistants of the Hungarian Ambulance Service.

Read also:

Missing boy’s body found after 24 years on Hungarian farm – read more HERE

August 2, 2024

Flood wave in Hungary: army also involved in the response – video, photo gallery

Flood wave in Hungary the army is also involved in the response - video, photo gallery

In Hungary, near the western border at Körmend, the river Rába has experienced a flood wave that has significantly exceeded its highest water level ever. The authorities, civilians and even the army have been called in to help.

According to VAOL, due to the sudden rainfall and the influx of water from Austria, the Water Management Directorate had to order protection measures on the section of the Rába in Körmend. As we wrote earlier, experts expected flooding at levels exceeding the highest recorded.

The regional protection committee and the emergency services launched a large-scale recruitment drive to raise the height of the protection barrier by 3000 metres. As a result, 360 people were involved on Sunday and more than 450 on Monday.

The cooperation was exemplary, with professional municipal and volunteer firefighters from Vas county and the surrounding counties, 50 members of the Győr unit of the Hungarian Defence Forces, the prison service and the NAV directorate general, the Police on Standby, the law enforcement vocational school in Körmend, the forestry, the civil guard, more than 70 employees of the government office, and complemented by civil volunteers from Körmend, successfully completed the three-kilometer dam raising in 24 hours.

It can now be seen that the river’s maximum water level is not as high as predicted, but the alert is still maintained.