Posted on 04/03/2006 2:39:51 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
VIENNA (AFP) - Parts of Hungary and the Czech Republic were on emergency alert following heavy flooding that has forced thousands to evacuate their homes across Eastern Europe.
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany Monday declared a state of emergency in northern and central regions hit by flooding, including Budapest.
One region, comprising the capital, stretches for about 150 kilometres along the Danube from Komarom, in northern Hungary on the border with Slovakia, to the village of Tass, 50 kilometres south of Budapest.
The other area is on the Ipoly river, also in northern Hungary along the Slovakian border.
"The population can be ordered to leave their homes and kept out of the affected area," Gyurcsany said at a press conference, adding traffic and movement in and out of these regions can also be limited.
As of Monday, 458 people had been evacuated because of floods, Tibor Dobson, spokesman for the national disaster prevention agency, told AFP, while rising water levels forced road closures, cutting off several towns north of Budapest.
Monday afternoon, the Danube topped 8.48 metres, matching the historic high set during the massive floods of 2002.
The water level Monday was more than double the 3.86 metres of a week ago and Environment Minister Miklos Persanyi said it was expected to rise a further 12 centimetres by Tuesday.
Meanwhile in the Czech Republic, seven out of 14 provinces were on emergency alert Monday amid fears the rising levels on the Elbe and other rivers could cause further flooding, including in the capital.
"If the water rises, Prague will be threatened," Interior Minister Frantisek Bublanhe said.
At least five Czechs have died because of the floods and two are missing, including a six-year-old from Sokolov who disappeared Sunday night near a raging stream while playing with friends.
The region of Usti-nad-Laben, near the German border, was virtually paralysed Monday as the Elbe rose to 8.79 metres, up from 8.61 metres at midnight. The normal water level is 2.0 metres.
More than a thousand inhabitants in the region have been evacuated and more will have to if the water level reaches nine metres, local authorities said.
During the catastrophic floods of 2002, it rose to 11.85 metres.
In Austria, between 300 and 400 people were forced to evacuate after a dam broke near the town of Duernkrut, in Lower Austria early Monday morning, due to rising water.
Local authorities surveying the scene by helicopter confirmed water was flowing through an 80-meter (250-foot) gap in the dam, located on the March river, on the border with Slovakia.
"Besides half the town (with a population of 2,100), we have to evacuate facilities like the train station, warehouse, petrol stations and a food company," local fire department head Eduard Kammerer said.
About 300 firefighters from neighbouring towns and 140 soldiers were called in to help. More were on their way as well as Black Hawk helicopters and lorries to transport concrete blocks used for flood defences, Austrian Defence Minister Guenther Platter said.
Work had also begun on a temporary dam Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the province's fire department said.
The flood forced Austrian Rail to close a stretch of railway between Vienna and the Czech Republic for at least 24 hours for security reasons, a spokesman said.
Global Moisturizing!!
I take some off their hands. 35 days w/o rain and none in sight. Wild fire season is going to be BAD in Florida this year.
Most distressing news. Prayers offered up for the safety of the people in the affected areas.
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