Today has seen the Danube River in Bratislava exceed 984 centimetres in height so far, according to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, with the water level continuing to rise. Flood protection barriers have been hastily erected on both sides of the river, and the road to Devin has again been closed. The mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftáčnik explained that the Danube's rising water level is not expected to go over the top of the installed anti-flood barriers. The mayor also explained that there are no plans to evacuate people, as although some properties are experiencing flooding, people aren't immediately endangered by the high water.
“The flood surge will reach Bratislava a little later than originally forecast, and it may reach between 980 to 1,020 centimetres, which is a little higher than in 2002, when it reached 991 centimetres,” explained the mayor on Tuesday. “We think the water level will be roughly half a metre below the barriers protecting the city, both the fixed as well as the mobile barriers laid down by the Slovak Water-management Company (SVP),” the mayor added. The past few days have seen the installation of removable anti-flood protection barriers. The system comprises of a series of waterproof aluminium slats, slid into vertical support beams, and secured into bolt holes in concrete along the Danube River promenade. The torrent of water has claimed one floating structure so far, with one of Bratislava's port pontoons now submerged below the water. “It's anchored with another five ropes. The worst that can happen is that it'll be immersed in the water and sink all the way to the bottom,” said the Water Management Company head Juraj Soták. As of this morning, the riverside restaurant named Propeller has also reported flooding. New information has also come to light that the body of a man has surfaced at the Gabčíkovo dam complex, on the Slovak & Hungarian border.
