Devín Castle in Bratislava on September 17, 2024. The castle remains closed until Thursday. (source: TASR)
As the Danube continues to crest in Bratislava, MP Veronika Remišová took the opportunity in parliament on Tuesday to propose that her colleagues join her in applauding the firefighters and volunteers involved in flood recovery efforts.
“We can give them a spontaneous round of applause,” said acting Speaker of Parliament Peter Žiga, smiling as MPs clapped in recognition.
Early this morning, the Danube began to peak in its upper reaches, reaching a maximum height of 905 centimetres at Devín, a Bratislava borough where the Danube and Morava rivers meet, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) said late on Tuesday morning.
In central Bratislava, the Danube peaked at 971 centimetres.
“The water level remains high, and authorities expect stabilisation at current levels in these areas throughout the day,” the met office added.
Due to the rainfall in the German and Austrian Danube basins and the increased inflow from the Morava River, the cresting in Devín and Bratislava will continue until tomorrow.
A significant rise in water levels is ongoing in the middle and lower stretches of the Danube in southern Slovakia.
The Danube levels in central Bratislava on September 17, 2024.
Hydrologists noted that the Morava, a border river with Austria and the Czech Republic, is also peaking in its upper section, with a sharp rise and the start of cresting in its middle and lower parts.
An unusual situation has been observed at Devínska Nová Ves, the Bratislava borough where the Danube is causing the Morava’s water level to back up. Experts noted that peaks are expected later today along the middle section of the Morava.
Flood warnings in Slovakia on September 17, 2024. (source: SHMÚ)
The situation in the areas of Bratislava most affected by flooding is also stabilising.
“We cannot speak of any improvement yet. The water levels of the Morava and Danube rivers are still not receding,” said Dárius Krajčír, the mayor of Devínska Nová Ves.
Istrijská, Vápencová, and Mlynská Streets remain closed until further notice. Devínska cesta in Devín also remains closed to vehicles due to high water levels (35 cm). According to the local authorities, residents needing to travel to or from Devín should use the shuttle transport provided by military vehicles via Devínska Nová Ves.
Partizánska lúka (Železničná studnička) in the forest park remains closed due to damaged playgrounds. However, it is expected to reopen on Saturday. Bratislava Castle will be closed until Friday, the TASR news agency reports. On Sunday, a small section of the retaining wall in the Bratislava Castle grounds collapsed due to the weather conditions. Devín Castle is closed until Thursday.
Rain from the past few days will give way to clear skies and temperatures slightly above 20°C in the coming days.
A man clears mud from the road after floods in the town of Stupava, in the Malacky district, on September 17, 2024. (source: TASR)
For now, Viedenská cesta (from the exhibition grounds to Starý most) and Kočánkova Street (up to Starý most) also remain impassable.
Bratislava’s public transport operator has reported that tram number 9 is now running along its usual route. However, trains between Bratislava and Vienna are still suspended, and services to the Czech Republic from Čadca and Nové Mesto nad Váhom are only operating up to the border.
The Moravský Svätý Ján – Hohenau and Medveďov – Vámosszabadi border bridges also remain closed.
“Shipping on the Danube remains suspended,” the Transport Ministry said on Tuesday. “Transport inspectors had to deal with a pontoon that had broken loose from Austria. After crossing the border, it was secured within Slovak territory.”
M. R. Štefánik Airport in Bratislava is operating without restrictions.
According to Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba, the damage caused by the floods in Slovakia is estimated to reach €20 million. However, he did not explain how this figure was calculated, and the full extent of the damage remains unknown. In recent days, Taraba has repeatedly made misleading statements about the floods. Initially, he claimed that the heaviest rainfall in the region would occur over Slovakia. Over the weekend, he stated that the situation in Slovakia was not as critical as in neighbouring countries because Slovakia had prepared well. In doing so, he overlooked the efforts made by people in the Czech Republic and Austria.
Slovakia could potentially receive funds from the European Union’s Solidarity Fund, established in 2002 in response to flooding in Central Europe, if certain conditions are met. According to MEP Ľubica Karvašová, damages would need to exceed €3 billion or 0.5 percent of Slovakia’s GDP (approximately €600 million) or 1.5 percent of a region’s GDP (€450 million for the Bratislava Region and €180 million for the Trnava Region).
Bratislava Region Governor Juraj Droba said on Tuesday that the greatest damage was caused in the districts of Malacky (Malina stream) and Pezinok (Blatina stream), as well as in Devín and Devínska Nová Ves.
The Petržalka side of the Danube. (source: Facebook/Juraj Droba)
On Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his government would provide financial aid to the affected areas.
“The government always has a small financial reserve that it can use,” Fico said.
