Budapest Battles Worst Danube Flooding in a Decade, Storm Boris Linked to Global Warming


Budapest, Hungary's capital, has been hit by serious flooding this weekend, as the Danube River surged to levels not seen in over a decade. Filmed by László Kondor, the footage shows the river's waters so high that benches along the embankments are completely submerged. The Danube's peak reached nearly 8.5 meters on Saturday evening, the highest in 10 years, though levels are now beginning to drop.

To protect the city, authorities set up a 760-kilometer-long fortification made up of nearly two million sandbags. The flood, caused by the remnants of Storm Boris, triggered a five-day state of emergency. Experts believe the storm is a sign of increasing global warming, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent.

Budapest’s famous Margaret Island, a popular tourist destination, was forced to close due to the rising waters, disrupting travel plans for many. Despite the challenges, the city continues to manage the aftermath of the deluge.