Danube swells to record levels, cities prepare for floods

BUDAPEST, VIENNA, BRATISLAVA, BELGRADE The four European capitals located along the banks of the Danube River - Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade - are preparing for a flood wave. A state of emergency has been declared in Budapest, where the water levels on the Danube are expected to peak at 875 centimeters - more than in 2002, when the figure was 849 centimeters. Danube swells to record levels, cities prepare for floods "The water mass that is coming our way is enormous and represents a real threat to human lives, but we can protect ourselves if we work well," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, but would not rule out possible evacuations in the coming days. The Danube in Budapest (Beta/AP) The water level have reached 792 centimeters in Vienna, and this is expected to be the peak for the city, where one bridge has been submerged since yesterday. But other towns along the Danube will see even higher water in the coming days. Slovakia is expecting the flood wave from Germany and Austria. A state of emergency has been declared in Bratislava where the water level is expected to rise to over ten meters. This morning 968 centimeters were measured, prompting forecasters to dub the phenomenon "the 100-year flood". However, the mayor of Bratislava said that he did not expect that evacuations of citizens will be necessary. Downstream in Serbia, the authorities are preparing for the peak of the wave to reach the country in the coming days, but do not expect that the Danube will break its banks. The heavy rainfall in central Europe in the past days caused serious flooding in several countries, affecting Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria the most, and killing at least eleven people. The Danube in Vienna (Beta/AP) B92

Danube swells to record levels, cities prepare for floods

"The water mass that is coming our way is enormous and represents a real threat to human lives, but we can protect ourselves if we work well," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, but would not rule out possible evacuations in the coming days. The water level have reached 792 centimeters in Vienna, and this is expected to be the peak for the city, where one bridge has been submerged since yesterday. But other towns along the Danube will see even higher water in the coming days.

Slovakia is expecting the flood wave from Germany and Austria. A state of emergency has been declared in Bratislava where the water level is expected to rise to over ten meters. This morning 968 centimeters were measured, prompting forecasters to dub the phenomenon "the 100-year flood".

However, the mayor of Bratislava said that he did not expect that evacuations of citizens will be necessary.

Downstream in Serbia, the authorities are preparing for the peak of the wave to reach the country in the coming days, but do not expect that the Danube will break its banks.

The heavy rainfall in central Europe in the past days caused serious flooding in several countries, affecting Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria the most, and killing at least eleven people.