Update – Budapest Recovers from Danube Flood, Cleanup Efforts Underway

The city of Budapest, Hungary, is currently in the process of recovering from a major flood caused by the Danube River. The floodwaters have receded, leaving behind massive amounts of debris, including large tree logs scattered along the embankments of the city. City workers are working tirelessly to clean up the aftermath and restore order to Budapest.

Timelapse video of the flood at Budapest in one minute

Budapest had to prepare for the highest flood in the last decade.

Cleanup crews are working around the clock, day and night, to remove the debris, mud, and waste left behind by the floodwaters. The logs are being cut into smaller pieces to facilitate their removal. The Budapest Public Transport Company (BKV) has already repaired the tram tunnel at Clark Ádám Square, allowing trams 19 and 41 to resume full service on the Buda side. Pumping operations are set to begin soon in the tram tunnel on the Pest side, followed by cleaning, with the goal of restoring full service for trams 2 and 23 by Friday or Saturday.

The Budapest Public Space Maintenance Company (FKF) has begun the gradual cleaning of the embankments, collecting and removing debris. The Budapest Sewerage Works Ltd. has started dismantling the temporary dams, which were built using more than 520,000 sandbags and over 6,000 cubic meters of clay. The sandbags and sand will be recycled in accordance with regulations.

Meanwhile, experts from the Budapest Parks and Public Spaces Ltd. (Főkert) are assessing the damage caused by the flood on Római Part, Óbuda Island, and Margaret Island. They are identifying and addressing potentially dangerous trees, and these areas will remain closed to visitors until the work is completed.

City officials emphasize that while there is still much work to be done, the flood response has demonstrated the importance of responsibility and expertise in city management. The successful handling of both the summer heat wave and the flood highlights the need to strengthen Budapest’s resilience to climate change. Despite the challenges, the city’s drinking water remains clean and safe for consumption.

As Budapest continues to recover from the flood, residents are asked to remain patient and look out for one another. The city’s officials and workers are committed to restoring Budapest to its pre-flood state as quickly as possible.

Sept 25, 2024 09:53 PM

Budapest is steadily recovering from the recent flood that disrupted daily life and transportation. The city’s authorities and public service companies have been working tirelessly to restore normalcy and reopen key routes for the public.

One of the major developments is the resumption of the H5 suburban railway (HÉV) service along its entire route, including the Batthyány Square terminus, starting from Wednesday. This will provide much-needed relief to commuters who rely on this line.

Furthermore, the Buda and Pest lower embankments, which were previously closed due to the flood, will be reopened to traffic on Thursday following necessary safety inspections and cleaning operations. This will significantly improve the flow of vehicular traffic in the city center.

Tram lines 2, 2B, and 23 will also resume full operations from Friday, September 27, after the completion of repairs and maintenance work on the affected sections.

However, both entrances to Margaret Island remain closed, with the island accessible only by foot via the Árpád Bridge.

The Budapest Public Works Company (BKM) has deployed its staff in two shifts, working around the clock to clean up the areas that were submerged in water last week.

As of 2 PM, the water level of the Danube in Budapest had receded to 525 cm, a significant improvement from the peak of the flood.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony expressed his gratitude to the city’s employees for their extraordinary efforts in restoring the embankments and public transport services ahead of schedule. He emphasized that their dedication and hard work cannot be praised enough.

The city administration and public service providers are committed to fully restoring all affected services and infrastructure in the shortest possible time, ensuring that Budapest can return to its normal rhythm.

Cover image: Budapest Városháza