Some of you may have heard that the Danube River in Budapest is experiencing the worst flood ever recorded. The city had a few days to prepare, so there was much less chaos than in the other affected countries. There’s been property damage and transportation disruption, but no deaths. The river hasn’t burst its banks. I ventured out twice to take photos – Thursday and Sunday. The photo above is my favorite view of Budapest. However, I’m standing much further away than usual.
The photo above was taken on Thursday. By Sunday the water had risen above the barrier to the right.
Same for this photo. The road was totally submerged on Sunday. These guys rolled up their pants and waded in.
This photo was taken on Sunday. It’s a tram stop on the road in the previous photo. Luckily she’s wearing a bikini!
Hundreds of people, both tourists and locals, showed up on Sunday to check it out. The flood was now at its peak. It was a festive atmosphere. Everyone was high on the thrill of safely witnessing a historic disaster. At times, it was difficult to squeeze in between the crowd of gawkers and take photos.
The green posts in the photo below are for the tram that usually runs through there.
The river is now receding. However, as I write this, a thunderstorm is tearing up the skies.
these photos are extremely traumatizing … we, from India, offer our condolences and pray from the bottom of our hearts for a quick and peaceful recovery !! .. I’m a writer and I would really like to add a work on this incident in my new book !! … I request you to share your story with me so that millions of beating hearts here in India can sense your loss and pray for your goodwill…
I hope that you will consider this offer
REGARDS
KARAN TRPATHI
Thank you for your offer, but, to be honest, I’m not traumatized and my story is not at all dramatic. As I said in my post, nobody died or was seriously injured. There’s property damage, but it could have been much worse. Thanks for your condolences.
It’s been pretty amazing… I couldn’t believe how high it was! Excellent pics as always!
Totally. I’m shocked that things have gone so well. This could have been so much worse. Did you go down and see it?
I did… last week and today. It was touch and go, a pretty close shave! I even went outside town and checked it out further north and there was a lot of flooding in some parts.
Thanks so much for this post. I was in Budapest last September and was at many of the same spots where you took photographs. The flood is truly amazing. I’m sure it’s causing havoc with the river cruise operators!
The most amazing thing is that it’s been contained and people are able to get right up next to it. Flood tourism. Haha.
I am so sorry to hear your country is going through this….blessings.
Thanks. It could have been a LOT worse.
A great document of the floods…
…thank you fore sharing – and all the best to you.
Thank you. 🙂
Do adventures find you or do you find the adventures! My brother and sister-in-law just returned from Budapest a few weeks ago. Loved every minute – missed the flood. I am thankful that no one has been hurt! You are going to love this quote:
“Ask the river, where it comes from? You will get no answer. Ask the river, where is it going? You will get no answer, because the river lives inside this very moment; neither in the past nor in the future, in this very moment only!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
In this case the drama found me, because I live here for now.
Fabulous quote, as usual. 🙂
Incredible photos so glad to hear there were no deaths.
Thanks!
wow! i don’t see any kayak or anybody canoeing thru the flood, like how it is in the Philippines, hahahah… be safe there J.
The current is way too strong now for kayaks on the river, but I did see a video of people trying to surf on the sidewalks.
I am so with you. A few months ago Rome’s Tiber briefly and suddenly turned into a monster… http://ciapannaphoto.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/h2rome-high-tiber-times/
I wish you all the best. And, now that you have these photos, wait for things to normalize, and then go back to the same spotsl, and you’ll have an amazing before/after series…
Yes, I remember your photos of that flood. I will definitely go back and take “after” photos. It’s hard to really get an idea of how high it is from these photos. Cheers!
Very interesting post – an odd juxtaposition – bright blue skies and rising waters. I trust your home is safe.
That’s what I thought, too. The smiling crowds made it even more surreal.
We live about a kilometer from the river on the 4th floor, so no worries for our place.
woah!
That’s what I said, too.
Oh my I did not realize where you live was going through this, have some friends in Germany and they are seriously affected, I hope things get better, how weird the way they are reacting all happy. Last year a tornado hit well just the point of the tornado and it was quite the experience nothing to laugh about it took us a year to get the house the way we wanted.
Read the last comment, glad you live on the 4th floor, take care Julie.
The people who are happy probably aren’t directly affected. People love drama as long as they don’t get hurt.
Julie this is so true that is why people love reality TV
Your photos really put things in perspective. We have been watching the flooding with increasing alarm!
The flood is shifting to the south, so Budapest is past the worst. Germany and Czech Republic had it a lot worse.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT BAD????!!!???
Your pics provide a realistic view of this that makes you feel there. Glad there were no deaths. I can’t imagine the clean up for this, but hopefully before there is anymore property damage to people….
Clean up is going to be nasty for sure, but the worst part is outside of the city center and in the countryside.
Wow. I hope citizens and the government help them. Working and living around something like this is tough.
Goodness me! In the summer too? Crazy!!! I remember it being winter when I last visited Budapest, and there was zero flooding. I hope everyone and everything is OK – I do love Budapest!
Bex
Yes, it’s been pretty wild, but luckily it hasn’t been too hot. Can you imagine how it would smell? The water is slowly receding, so things will be back to normal soon. Cheers. 🙂
Oh no, the smell of stagnant water – yuck! Good that the temps are not what they have been here in Madrid then! I hope you see normal again soon 🙂
That is an awesome amount of water! I was vaguely aware but hadn’t seen much news footage recently. Thanks for smiling throughout (and the bikini shot). Nature 1- Man 0. 🙂
Thanks, Jo. Budapest didn’t get much attention in the international press. It was more focused more on Germany, Czech Republic and Austria, where the damage much worse.
En France nous avons les même inondations.. Beaux reportage.
Merci!
Au plaisir de vous lire…
wow that is a hell of a flood…I remember in 2011 when the Panama canal was flooding when I was there….It wasn’t a huge deal though because there aren’t many people that live around that area…But wow the Danube…that looks crzy great photos fellow blogger…
Hey, thanks! It was pretty amazing for sure. I’m going to take some photos of the river after it gets back to normal so people can see the difference.
The swimmer in the bikini picture amidst the flood waters — nice catch =)
I thought so, too. 😉
Wow! You were there too! So, are you affected by the tourist catastrophe there? I heard quite a lot about people hating the catastrophe as they tends to slow down or obstruct the workers from saving the town.
Hi! No, I wasn’t affected. Budapest got back to normal very quickly.
Oh ok! Nice post!
Thank you, Alex. 🙂