The Danube river rose above nine metres in Bratislava yesterday, its highest level in over a century, as soldiers continued sandbagging the capital against moderate flooding feared later tonight and Friday morning.
While the river is expected to crest 10 metres in Bratislava before it starts to recede, officials say the Gabčíkovo hydro dam will prevent floods from damaging the surrounding terrain to the extent that more moderate waters did in 1954.
The town of Devin, however, 12 kilometers downstream from Bratislava, has been virtually cut off from the world with both access roads under water and electricity supplies in danger of being cut off.
Finance Minister František Hajnovič has been tasked by the government with finding emergency funds to compensate towns and villages for what is feared to be hundreds of million of crowns in flood damage.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
