STORY: Hungary braces for "biggest flood in a decade"
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 17, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:48
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Danube River
2. various of river water levels rising
3. various of sandbag barriers
4. various of workers filling and placing sandbags

STORYLINE:

The "biggest flood in a decade" is coming to Budapest, Mayor Gergely Karacsony warned in a recent video posted on his Facebook page.
   
On Monday, the flood alert was raised to level three in the Hungarian capital. The highest water levels are expected to come in the second half of the week.

As part of the city's preparations, both the Pest and Buda lower quays were closed from 8 p.m. on Monday. Mayor Karacsony urged those parked in these areas to move their vehicles before the quays were closed.
   
Karacsony also highlighted that Margaret Island and the Danube riverbanks are particularly at risk from the flood, with further closures expected in these areas.
   
Budapest authorities will provide 1 million sandbags, of which about 800,000 will be used on Margaret Island.
   
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that he has postponed all of his international obligations due to the extreme weather conditions and ongoing floods in Hungary.
   
The Hungarian Defense Forces are participating in flood protection by deploying 12,000 people, along with vehicles and helicopters, Interior Minister Sandor Pinter stated at a press conference on Monday.
   
Forecasts suggest that the water levels of the Danube and Lajta rivers will reach or exceed the heights seen during the 2013 floods.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)