Budapest Braces For Danube Flooding

A child rides his bike along the Danube as floodwaters engulf a quay in Budapest on December 27.

According to the North Transdanubian Water Directorate, almost 1,200 kilometers along the river in Hungary are under a flood alert due to the recent high precipitation.

A local man builds a mobile dam to protect property from floodwaters.

There are also flood warnings in other parts of Hungary.

Budapest, the capital of Hungary with a population of 1.7 million, is situated along the banks of the Danube, the second-largest river in Europe.

Flooding has historically been a common occurrence in Budapest. The most significant flood tragedy unfolded in 1838, claiming the lives of at least 15 people, destroying 2,485 homes, and leaving 60,000 people homeless.

A flood that occurred in Budapest in 1965 lasted for 113 days, resulting in Margaret Island, which sits in the middle of the river in the city center, being totally submerged.

In the early 1980s, Budapest took steps to fortify the city's flood defenses, reducing the probability of catastrophic floods.

A child walks in a nearby flooded tunnel...
 

...while others enjoyed the curious sight along the embankment.

 

A dog watches the floodwaters at a closed pub along the river.

The floodwater in Budapest is expected to crest on December 28.