Orbán: Six more days to go

The prime minister on Friday praised protection efforts, saying that there were ample number of volunteers and coordination between state and municipal protection bodies had been seamless so far.

People also seemed “calmer” than during the 2013 floods, he said. “We can say this time: nothing is happening that we haven’t seen before, and there is no danger that we haven’t avoided at least once already.”

While the situation is serious, “there is no need to rush”, Orbán said. If everyone stays in their place over the weekend, “everything will be fine”, he said.

Orbán said he expected Hungarians to “come out strengthened” from the situation.

Forecasts accurate so far, key to flood defence

Forecasts of flood peaks have been accurate so far, and this is key to the success of defence efforts, Orbán told the press conference. Regarding the River Leitha, surrounding areas were successfully protected throughout a ten-hour peak, and the situation is improving, he said. As regards the River Danube, reports on Friday morning show the flood peak in the area of Komarom, in the north-west. The Danube water recession is expected to be slow, he added.

On Thursday 614km of rivers were under defence, and now this has risen to 754km, with the most urgent level of defence readiness at 114km.

Over the weekend, the task will be to maintain preparedness and “constant vigilance”, Orbán said after the meeting of the operative body for flood protection.

He called on lawmakers, volunteers and mayors to organise patrols to monitor the situation.

“The hardest in times like these is to maintain vigilance when one feels the worst is behind one,” he said.

While flood protection efforts have so far focused on the stretch of the Danube upstream from Budapest, work has now started in the south too, on Bata, Dunaszekcso and Baja, he said.