Budapest, Hungary - September 20, 2024

The Hungarian capital city of Budapest is reeling from the worst flooding that has hit central Europe in at least two decades.

Record heavy rainfall and floods generated by Storm Boris have left a trail of destruction from Romania to Poland, spreading mud and debris, destroying bridges, submerging cars and leaving authorities with a bill for damages expected to run into billions of U.S. dollars.

Floodwaters continued to rise in Budapest on Friday, flooding streets around the parliament building. The city has closed Margaret Island, a recreational area with hotels and restaurants.

In a residential neighborhood north of the city center, rows after rows of homes remain inundated. There are about 5,000 people living in this area. Their streets have been turned into rivers.

Most of the people, however, say that they are not going to evacuate. Instead, they are going to pump water out of their basements and underground car drives, so that they can stay put for safety concerns.

They are calling on the authorities for help, complaining that they didn't get the resources that they need.

The Central European country has entered the most challenging phase of dealing with the current wave of flooding, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Wednesday.

Response efforts are projected to last for around a week, with floodwaters expected to recede from the southern border to Serbia by next Thursday.

Shotlist:

Budapest, Hungary - Sept 20, 2024
1. Aerial shots of flooded residential neighborhood;
2. Resident;
3. Various of neighborhood in deep floodwater.

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