This weekend public dignitaries and high-ranking officials have been closely following up flood protection operations along the flooding Danube.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held regular press conferences where he provided up-to-date information on the efforts to defend the dykes and he personally took part in the defensive operations, too.

Although Hungary is facing the highest flood wave of all time the Prime Minister praised flood defence efforts in the country and the fact that no human life had been lost due to flooding, which he had emphasised should be the most important aspect. The Prime Minister also said that the Hungarian State is currently doing well in handling the state of emergency and that never before had he seen such an intensive pooling of efforts that is currently under way. Apart from professionals, there are thousands of volunteers working at the dkyes, recruited on the internet or by various organizations, including church organizations or the National Roma Self-Government.

At a press conference held this morning jointly with the Prime Minister in Esztergom, north of Hungary, Defence Minister Csaba Hende informed public that the Hungarian Defence Force increased the number of people involved in the defensive operations to 7011 and there are another 700 soldiers in reserve.

During the weekend, President of the Republic János Áder also visited the most critical locations affected by the floods.

On the request of the Prime Minister, the Parliament is scheduled to approve the extension of the state of emergency on Monday and the government will decide on Tuesday whether to call a state of emergency for the section of the river that runs through the capital.

According to information provided by the disaster management authority (OKF) so far 1,200 people have been evacuated from 28 settlements in 6 counties in Hungary, while 44 roads have been closed, due to the flooding Danube.

Regular and up-to-date information on the flood is transmitted on the flood information radio, launched this weekend by the public media and on the Facebook page entitled ’Flood 2013 National Solidarity’ (Árvíz 2013 Összefogás) where the recruitment of volunteers is also taking place.

(Prime Minister’s Office)