Viktor Orban hailed the work carried out by Hungarians, saying the country was now hearing about "anecdotes and uplifting moments, but there were dangerous periods as well".

If cooperation had not been as smooth as it had been among those participating in flood defence efforts, "there could've been big trouble," he said.

Flood - Orban: Hungary has defended itself

Hungary has defended itself, "and we've now proven to ourselves many times that Hungary can do this," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview with commercial broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday evening.

Orban, who gave the interview after inspecting the flood defence work near Dunaszekcso, in the southwest, said Hungary had "defeated" the flood, and though receding flood waters could sometimes cause problems, they were not expecting any this time.

He said the water was receding fast and the peak of the flood wave would flow beyond Hungarian territory two days sooner than originally anticipated.

Hungary's defence work 'outstanding' in international comparison

The flood defence work carried out by Hungary has also been "outstanding" in an international comparison, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview with commercial broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday evening.

The prime minister said one reason for this was that Hungary had always had "an advantage of two to three days" compared with the other countries battling the floods. Since most of the rain falls in the mountains, "the trouble arises there immediately", and by the time the water makes its way to Hungary, the country is better prepared, he added.

"So it's true that we've done a good job with the defence work, but we also have a positional advantage," the prime minister said.

He said with the flood wave flowing beyond the country's territory, the next very important phase in the flood defence would involve a public health clean-up.

Defence minister rejects Tisza leader's 'attacks' against troops

Hungary's defence minister on Tuesday rejected what he called "attacks" by Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza Party, against soldiers contributing to the flood defence efforts.

"The flood isn't over yet," Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a video posted on Facebook. "The Hungarian troops remain … on the dams."

"I reject the left-wing firebrand's renewed attacks against Hungarian professional and reservist soldiers who have been tasked with, and performed admirably in protecting Hungarians' property, lives and safety," the minister said.

"Enough with this theatre on the dams,"Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, calling on Magyar to go back to Brussels and look after his duties as an MP.

"Defence of the homeland is no joke," he said, adding that peace required strength, and vowed to "continue the work".

Retvari: Danube receding in Hungary

The River Danube has fully peaked and is receding in Hungary, though flood alerts will stay in place until Saturday afternoon, an interior ministry official said.

The water level is receding along the entire section, but flood defence operations are still ongoing at 29 locations where the state is overseeing tasks and at another 41 locations managed by local councils, parliamentary state secretary Bence Retvari told a press conference after a meeting of the operative body in charge of flood protection.

All post-flood sites are being disinfected according to detailed guidelines provided to local authorities by the national public health centre, he said.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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