Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held a joint press conference with Budapest Mayor István Tarlós this morning at the Római Bank of the Danube, one of the flood-hit districts of Budapest. The Prime Minister informed that water level on the Danube broke the all-time record in Budapest and crested at 8.91 metres on Sunday evening. So far some 1 500 people have been evacuated due to the flooding and about 6 800 consumers were left without electricity or water. A state of emergency is to be extended, the Prime Minister said.

Monday's flood efforts will concentrate on areas south of Budapest where the river is currently peaking at record highs. He informed that the main dyke system is stable south of the capital and the danger zones now were near the Tass dam, Báta, Kisapostag, Baja and the Dunaföldvár bridge, in south Hungary.

Budapest Mayor István Tarlós told the press conference that the Danube is now receding with most recent water level measurements at 8.88-8.89 metres. There are no disasters reported and problems have been averted at the most vulnerable areas around Margit bridge and Batthyány square, too. The situation at Római banks district has been normalised and a stronger flow of water experienced on the eastern side of Margaret island is also under control.

(Prime Minister’s Office/ International Communications Office)