A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Due to the heavy and unseasonal rainfall, there was a massive river flooding in different parts of Hungary starting from 14 September 2014 onwards. The General Directorate of Water Management posted red alert on the rivers Dráva, Lajta, Mura, Rába and Zala, in total along 320 kilometres. The floods affected 90 villages in 10 counties of Hungary, namely Vas, Zala, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Veszprém, Baranya, Bács-Kiskun, Nógrád and Fejér.
The rivers Mura and Dráva peaked on 17 September 2014 affecting the surrounding regions. There were flood defense activities in more than 100 settlements in the counties of Baranya, Somogy, Vas and Zala between 15-21 September 2014.
During the response phase approximately 300,000 sandbags were used in total, and special efforts were made in Zala and Baranya counties, because the dam was seriously damaged and rescue activities were initiated.
The total number of affected population was 6,500, and the total number of assisted people was 2,500. About 300 people from the ten concerned counties were evacuated and sheltered on 14 and 15 September 2014. The remaining 2,200 people were prepared for the immediate evacuation in case of alert. The residents carried out flood protection activities trying to save their livelihoods and valuables