Flooding in the Bratislava district of Devínska Nová Ves at the intersection of Istrijská and Mlynská Streets. (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Bratislava police have issued a stern warning to residents to stay away from the Danube River at the Tyršovo and Fajnorovo embankments, as well as other nearby areas, due to dangerous conditions.
"Falling into the river poses a severe risk of fatal consequences," the police said on Sunday evening, as quoted by the TASR news agency.
The water level of the Danube in central Bratislava surpassed 8 metres late on Sunday evening. By early morning, it is expected to reach 9 metres.
As heavy rain continues to batter parts of Slovakia and water levels rise in a number of Slovak rivers and streams, several roads have become impassable on Sunday, causing widespread disruption to daily traffic. The public transport system in Bratislava has also been affected, with some tram services suspended.
Tram services in Bratislava on September 15 (updated)
Line 1: Restored.
Line 4: Restored in both directions on the Pri kríži - Šafárikovo Square section. Replacement bus service X4 operates on the Šafárikovo Square- Zlaté piesky section.
Line 3: Restored with an extended interval.
Line 9: Replaced by X9 buses in the Astronomická – Šafárikovo Square section via Obchodná and SNP Square. At Šafárikovo Square, transfer to tram 4 towards Pri kríži.
The transfer point is Šafárikovo Square. None of the tram lines are running according to the regular timetable, and intervals are extended.
Source: DPB
Sunday, September 15 is a public holiday, and most shops in the country are therefore closed, resulting in the minimal movement of people.
Trolleybus and bus services in Bratislava on September 15 (updated)
49: Buses are operating.
64: Operates in both directions on the Valašská - Hraničná section via Šancová, Legionárska, Karadžičova, Mlynské nivy, and Prievozská
71: Does not operate in both directions via Miletičova. It does not serve the following stops: Miletičova (C), Trenčianska (A), Trhovisko (A, D), Saleziáni (E, F), Trnavské mýto (E, F), and Račianske mýto (C, D).
Buses 43, 144, and 154 are not operating.
32, 36, 37, 99, 70: Restored to its original route.
96: Gradually being restored under limited conditions.
29: Runs from the final stop at Malá scéna to the Botanical Garden, continuing through Karlova Ves and Dúbravka. From the Pri Sandbergu stop, it follows its regular route to Opletalova, VW5, and back via the same diverted route. Replacement service X29 runs between the Mlynská and Devín Castle stops.
20, 21, and 29: Operating between Novoveská and DNV (station) via Vápencova. The Mlynská stop (A, B) is not being serviced.
Source: DPB
Flooding has affected Bratislavská and Gbelská Streets in Záhorská Bystrica, a borough of Bratislava, as well as Istrijská Street in Devínska Nová Ves, another borough of Bratislava. Devínska Nová Ves and Devín are the most affected by the flooding among all Bratislava boroughs.
The underpass from the Patrónka junction to the zoo was also submerged during the day. Animals at the Bratislava Zoo had to be evacuated, reports Denník N.
Due to fallen branches and trees, traffic has been diverted from Miletičova Street in Bratislava, TASR reported on Sunday night. Istrijská Street in Devínska Nová Ves is difficult to pass. Several roadways in the Malacky district are also impassable, including access roads to the villages of Borinka and Pernek, as well as roads within these villages. Other impassable routes include sections from Lozorno towards Rohožník, from Kuchyňa towards Pernek, and from Láb towards Vysoká na Morave. Traffic on the bridge in the centre of Stupava is being alternately allowed and regulated by police due to the high water level in the stream. There are also issues with road passability in the village of Kuchyňa.
"Traffic restrictions are expected on Monday, and movement around the city should be minimised to essential travel only," stated the Bratislava City Hall.
VIDEO: Flooding on part of the D2 motorway near the Zohor exit heading from Bratislava on September 15, 2024
Devínska cesta, a road in Bratislava, has been closed in both directions since Saturday due to a landslide. To get to Devín, the diversion route leads through Devínska Nová Ves. Bratislava announced on Saturday that it would attempt to arrange a geological inspection of the slope over the weekend.
"We are doing everything we can, together with other authorities and a geologist, to restore traffic on Devínska cesta, at least partially, as soon as possible. However, the damage to the slope is extensive, and reopening the road will take several days," the city of Bratislava said on Sunday night.
Devínska cesta in Bratislava on September 15, 2024. (source: Facebook/Polícia - Bratislavský Kraj)
Viedenská cesta and Fajnorovo nábrežie (embankment) in Bratislava both remain closed. Parking spaces near the river on the Petržalka side of the Danube are also closed.
Several traffic restrictions have also been reported in the Trenčín and Žilina Regions, in particular in the town of Čadca due to the highly increased level of the Kysuca River.
VIDEO: Closure of Devínska cesta
Closed roads in Záhorie region (western Slovakia)
The situation on the roads is improving, with water receding and most roads in the Záhorie region now passable. Drivers are still advised to follow traffic signs and police instructions.
Road II/425 – the bridge at the Lanžhot-Brodské border crossing is closed
Previously closed roads:
Road II/581 Podbranč-Myjava
Road II/590 Skalica-Zlatnícka Dolina and Borský Mikuláš-Lakšárska Nová Ves
Road III/1144 Border crossing of Moravský Sv. Ján-Hohenau
Road II/500 Sobotište-Vrbovce
Road II/426 Closed bridge between Holíč and Skalica
Road II/501 Cerová-Jablonica: Passable with one lane
Road III/1276 Dechtice-Dobrá Voda: Passable with one lane, muddy road
Záhorská Bystrica, Bratislavská
Stupava towards Borinka
Stupava towards Lozorno
Pernek (line 249 operates only in the Malacky – Pernek section)
Kuchyňa
Jabloňové
Due to the bad weather, not all stops in the Záhorie region might be served by regional bus lines.
Source: Arriva
Due to the increased water level of the Kysuca River, the bridge leading from Road I/11 to the Vranie district in Žilina and to the village of Rudinka is closed. (source: Sme)
The weather is affecting railway transport in Slovakia as well as in the neighbouring countries.
Due to bad weather, trains between Bratislava and Vienna have been suspended until further notice.
"The RJX 167 (September 15) and RJX 160 (September 16) trains between Bratislava and Vienna have been cancelled. However, the replacement bus service between Bratislava and Marchegg is not affected and will continue as planned," explained Slovakia's national train company.
Trains through the Čadca border station towards Prague, the Czech Republic, are not running and only operating between Žilina and Čadca with a replacement service. Passengers are advised to use connections to the Czech Republic via Púchov. Trains through the Vrbovce (Nové Mesto nad Váhom – Myjava – Veselí nad Moravou) border station are running only as far as Vrbovce, with services beyond Vrbovce to the Czech Republic cancelled. Trains through other border crossings are operating but expect longer delays.
Extreme weather has also caused widespread power outages in the northern part of central Slovakia, including Bytča, Kysucké Nové Mesto and Čadca districts, and in western Slovakia over the weekend.
On Sunday, the risk of flooding from ongoing rainfall remains high across multiple districts in Slovakia. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) issued third-degree flood warnings for a number of districts on Sunday. On Sunday night, the highest level flood warnings are in effect in the districts of Kysucké Nové Mesto, Čadca, Senec, Skalica, Senica, Malacky, Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Komárno, and Nové Zámky.
The water level of the Danube River in Bratislava reached 8.2 m on Sunday night (23:15). (source: SHMÚ)
Additionally, the highest alerts for heavy rain are in place for Skalica, Senica, Myjava, and Malacky. Rainfall is expected throughout the Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Trenčín, Nitra, Trnava, and Žilina Regions until Monday evening. Alerts ranging from first to third degree are also in effect for the eastern Slovak districts of Gelnica, Rožňava, Spišská Nová Ves, Kežmarok, Levoča, Poprad, and Stará Ľubovňa.
"The expectation is that the rainfall will cease in the coming hours, but another wave is anticipated during the night," meteorologist Cyril Siman said on Sunday afternoon, as quoted by Denník N. He noted that new precipitation should be expected on Monday.
Weather warnings for Monday, September 16, 2024. (source: SHMÚ)
Streams have overflowed in several towns in western Slovakia, including the border town of Kúty, Pezinok near Bratislava and Stupava in the Malacky district, which borders Bratislava, and flooded garages, streets and houses. The flood also affected the Kaštieľ retirement home in Stupava. Residents were promptly evacuated to higher floors. As the water flooded the food storage area, firefighters arranged for the distribution of necessary supplies directly to the Kaštieľ.
"We ask all residents to prepare an evacuation bag for emergencies and potential evacuation notices, which cannot be ruled out," the town of Stupava, near Bratislava, wrote on Facebook on Sunday morning.
An evacuation centre in Stupava has been established at the Primary School of Captain Ján Nálepka. Meanwhile, several people have been evacuated in Devínska Nová Ves in Bratislava, and around 100 people have been evacuated in the village of Kuchyňa in the Malacky district.
The Vydrica stream has also overflowed in the popular Bratislava green oasis, Železná studnička.
"Do not enter the forests at this time, and avoid public parks as well. It is currently very dangerous," the city of Bratislava warned its residents on Sunday night.
Due to heavy rain, the Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava, located by the Danube, is also closed over the weekend. The gallery has shared photos of damaged walls on social media.
A small section of the retaining wall at Bratislava Castle has collapsed due to the current weather conditions.
The Bratislava Region has advised the directors of secondary schools within its jurisdiction to grant students a day off on Monday, September 16. A similar recommendation has been issued by the Education Ministry. Primary schools and kindergartens will remain closed in Devínska Nová Ves, Dúbravka, Záhorská Bystrica, but not in Nové Mesto and Ružinov.
The University of Economics in Bratislava has decided to postpone the start of lectures at its Bratislava campuses for the winter semester from September 16 to one week later.
Primary schools and kindergartens in the city of Bratislava on September 16
In Devínska Nová Ves, all kindergartens and primary schools will be closed on Monday due to flooding. In Devín, both the municipal kindergarten and the private primary school will be closed. In Karlova Ves, students at the three primary schools will have a day off on Monday. In Lamač, kindergartens and the primary school will remain open, but there will be a ban on staying in the school grounds due to the risk of falling trees and branches. In Záhorská Bystrica, the primary school on Hargašova Street will be closed, while the kindergarten classes will remain open. The city district of Staré Mesto (Old Town) will leave the decision up to the principals of primary and kindergartens. Kindergartens and primary schools in Nové Mesto and Ružinov will be open on Monday. In Petržalka, schools will also be open, except for Prokofievova Primary School.
Source: TASR/Facebook
Compared to initial estimates, the flood wave on the Morava River is expected to be slightly smaller.
"The situation on the Morava is stabilised, thanks in part to the Czech water managers," hydrologist Peter Smrtník said on Sunday. "We should not reach the critical levels on the Morava discussed in recent days."
Conversely, a higher flood wave is anticipated on the Danube - from Bratislava to the town of Štúrovo - than was recorded at the beginning of June this year. Peak levels are expected on the Morava profiles and on the Danube in Devín and Bratislava on Monday/Tuesday, reaching level 3 of the flood warning system.
The Bratislava waterfront is expected to be fully secured against flooding by Sunday evening or Monday morning.
"The flood barriers around the Tyršovo Embankment [in Bratislava] are expected to be completed by Monday morning, before the Danube reaches its peak," said the city.
The worst hydrological situation was in the basins of the Kysuca (northern Slovakia) and Myjava (western Slovakia) rivers, as well as in the smaller basins of the Small Carpathians (western Slovakia) on Sunday.
According to experts, Čadca, northern Slovakia, has been struck by a 50-year flood, with similar floods recorded in 1997. According to hydrometeorologists, the Kysuca River reached a level of 383 cm at 9:45 on Sunday.
"The water has caused significant damage to property, which will affect the operation of schools and educational facilities, as well as suburban transport services and the town's overall functioning. Bridge connections will be fully restored only following assessments by structural engineers," the town announced on Sunday afternoon.
The water level began to recede in the afternoon. In the Kysuce region, work to repair the damage has thus begun.
By midnight, the water level of the Kysuca River dropped to 130 cm.
Rain doesn't just complicate life for people but for birds as well. The organisation SOS/BirdLife Slovakia posted on social media that the rain has severely disrupted the migration of barn swallows and house martins.
"The situation is critical," the organisation stated on social media, urging people not to disturb the birds if they find them on their balconies and to allow them to wait out the rainy period. They also requested that people allow swallows access to stables, barns, and cellars, which they favour.
"If you find exhausted individuals on the ground, take them home in a box lined with napkins so they can stay dry overnight. They can survive a few days without food, but they need to be in peace and warmth."
VIDEO: The Danube River in downtown Bratislava
"The band of heavy rain associated with the wavy cold front and low-pressure system is slowly moving out of our region and currently affects only the southwest," the SHMÚ office said on Sunday morning, adding that this band gradually moved through the entire area from the northeast during the night.
The band of heavy rain affects only the southwest of Slovakia, meteorologists said on Sunday morning. (source: SHMÚ)
The highest total rainfall since Thursday morning was recorded by the SHMÚ office in the village of Pernek in the Záhorie region – over 350 millimetres. The average annual rainfall in the area is around 650 millimetres. In just three to four days, nearly half a year's worth of rainfall has been recorded. At other stations, including Bratislava, meteorologists recorded totals exceeding 200 millimetres.
Cumulative rainfall total from Thursday to Sunday. (source: SHMÚ)
Daytime temperatures on Sunday ranged from 13°C to 18°C. Meteorologists forecasted a light to moderate northwest wind in the west, reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h, with gusts occasionally reaching 85 km/h during the night and early morning.
The same weather, including daytime temperatures, can be expected on Monday.
Light rain will continue in the Small Carpathians in western Slovakia throughout the night. The rain is expected to intensify with Monday's precipitation wave. Heavier rainfall is anticipated, particularly in Spiš in eastern Slovakia.
Probability of precipitation on Monday. (source: SHMÚ)
The Donio fundraising website, Slovak Catholic Charity, and People in Peril have launched a fundraiser for those affected by the floods. The Labour Ministry will provide financial and humanitarian assistance not only to individuals but also to towns affected by the floods, announced Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas). The maximum amount of aid per household is €1,500 and may be provided more than once. The grant for municipalities is €15,000.
Humanitarian aid will be delivered through the labour offices, where flood-affected citizens can apply for assistance.
Severe flooding continues in the Czech Republic as well. Austria and Poland have confirmed the first casualties.
Ukraine, which is contending with Russia's war on its own soil, has offered to help Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, Moldova, Hungary and Romania overcome the floods by sending its units of the Ukrainian Emergency Situations Service.
"Ukraine stands in solidarity with its neighbours who are suffering from devastating floods," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted to social media.
