Hungary and the Czech Republic have declared states of emergency and the city of Budapest is under threat due to flooding from swollen rivers in Central Europe. In the Hungarian capital, the Danube has reached a record 8.58 metres, flooding roads and tramlines around it and paralysing the transport network. The previous high in the capital was 8.48 metres during the catastrophic floods that hit central Europe in 2002.
Gabor Demszky, the mayor of Budapest, today called on drivers to use public transport during the flood crisis. In all, Hungary has evacuated 516 people from their homes and over 11,500 houses are in danger of being flooded along stretches of the Danube and Ipoly rivers, affecting 32,600 inhabitants.
The situation is more acute in the Czech Republic, where seven of the 14 regions have declared a state of emergency thanks to the high levels of the river Elbe and other waterways. Nearly 10,000 people have had to leave their homes, including around 1,000 in the north around the Czech city of Usti Nad Labem, and a further 1,000 around the town of Litomerice. With more heavy showers forecast for tomorrow it is likely to be days before evacuees will be able to leave emergency shelters.
Transport across the region has been disrupted with key roads cut by the rising flood water, and some of the region’s giant chemical companies have also been closed.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2117640,00.html