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Transcarpathia hit by serious flooding Martin Robb on behalf of László Horkay, Bishop of the Reformed Church of Transcarpathia Water levels are higher than during the catastrophic floods of November 1998. Torrential rain combined with a sudden rise in temperature producing snow-melt led to serious flooding in Transcarpathia Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday. The River Tisza rose by over six metres in the space of 24 hours, and reached levels unheard of since records began, exceeding even those of November 1998. The Ukrainian embankments were unable to withstand the pressure, and almost every village along the banks was flooded. Official figures released Tuesday morning, probably reflecting the situation on Monday evening, stated that 192 settlements had been affected. 7,130 houses were under water and 10 had collapsed. Over fifty settlements were without telephone and electricity. Two deaths were reported. However, since then the situation has only deteriorated. The embankments beside Técsö collapsed in three places on Monday evening, and the town of 10,700 people was largely flooded. Overnight, helicopters from Hungary rescued people from the tops of houses and trees - 2,290 houses were flooded along 115 streets. As the flood progressed downstream, the area between the road from Beregszász (Beregovo) to Nagyszölös (Vinograd), and the Ukrainian-Romanian-Hungarian border, was turned into one huge lake. All those Hungarian-populated settlements worse affected in November 1998 were hit again: Tiszabökény, Mezövári, Csetfalva, Sarosoroszi, Feketeardó..... Entire villages were evacuated, and many had no choice but to flee across the border into Hungary: temporary border crossings were opened, and no passports or documents were needed. The water in Tiszabökény was 60cm above the flooding levels of 1998. Late Tuesday afternoon, all of Mezövári was affected, whereas in the 1998 flood only half the village was damaged - the water was pouring into the Reformed church, which was unaffected in 1998. The only comforting thought is that the houses rebuilt in 1998 are probably stronger than their predecessors, and may withstand the flood; however, possessions, food stores and livestock have been lost once again. On Tuesday, the peak of the flood passed into the next section of the River Tisza, which is in Hungary. Here they have been increasing the height and strength of the embankments ever since the floods of recent years; but at exactly the point where the work stopped before the onset of winter, the embankments broke Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning the Hungarian authorities have been evacuating people from all the villages in the region on the Hungarian side of the Hungarian-Ukrainian border; however, one wonders what the situation must be on the Ukrainian side of the border, where the villages in just as much danger or more so. From the point of view of Transcarpathia, the next battle with the River Tisza will be fought Wednesday night - Thursday morning, when the peak of the flood reaches the stretch of the River Tisza that forms the Hungarian-Ukrainian border between Száloka and Csop. Already on Tuesday night every able-bodied man in this region of Transcarpathia was being sent to the embankments to help. This region escaped by a hairbreadth in 1998 due to the heroic efforts of the local people and the help of Hungary; however, given the fact that the river will be even higher than in 1998, the situation seems bleak. The Reformed Church of Transcarpathia, which is perhaps the most significant organization in the affected areas, is doing all that it can to help, as it did in 1998 as well. Church members from unaffected villages have gone to help those places in danger; the institutions of the Church are doing all that they can to feed those working on the embankments, and to give aid to those who have been evacuated and whose houses are under water. Various other organizations - local ones, Hungarian ones and foreign ones - are also doing what they can. We are grateful to God that He has heard our prayers and the rain has stopped; although further rain had been predicted for the coming few days, a large anticyclone has formed over the region, and it seems that there will be no more rain. We also know and believe that "in all things" -even now - "God works for the good of those who love him" - and we pray that He will strengthen those working to protect their families, homes, villages and churches from the mighty River Tisza. Join them, by praying for them. ***** Latest official statistics on Wednesday morning put the number of houses flooded in Transcarpathia at 12,000, and over 11,000 people had been evacuated. Ministers reported that 30 houses have collapsed in Tiszabökény, and 210 houses collapsed in Tekeháza. Roads and railways have been swept away in the Upper Tisza region, for example around Huszt; railway tracks have been left hanging in mid-air. *****
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Transcarpathia hit by serious flooding

Martin Robb on behalf of László Horkay, Bishop of the Reformed Church of Transcarpathia

Water levels are higher than during the catastrophic floods of November 1998. Torrential rain combined with a sudden rise in temperature producing snow-melt led to serious flooding in Transcarpathia Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday.

The River Tisza rose by over six metres in the space of 24 hours, and reached levels unheard of since records began, exceeding even those of November 1998. The Ukrainian embankments were unable to withstand the pressure, and almost every village along the banks was flooded.

Official figures released Tuesday morning, probably reflecting the situation on Monday evening, stated that 192 settlements had been affected. 7,130 houses were under water and 10 had collapsed. Over fifty settlements were without telephone and electricity. Two deaths were reported.

However, since then the situation has only deteriorated. The embankments beside Técsö collapsed in three places on Monday evening, and the town of 10,700 people was largely flooded. Overnight, helicopters from Hungary rescued people from the tops of houses and trees - 2,290 houses were flooded along 115 streets. As the flood progressed downstream, the area between the road from Beregszász (Beregovo) to Nagyszölös (Vinograd), and the Ukrainian-Romanian-Hungarian border, was turned into one huge lake.

All those Hungarian-populated settlements worse affected in November 1998 were hit again:

Tiszabökény, Mezövári, Csetfalva, Sarosoroszi, Feketeardó.....

Entire villages were evacuated, and many had no choice but to flee across the border into Hungary: temporary border crossings were opened, and no passports or documents were needed. The water in Tiszabökény was 60cm above the flooding levels of 1998.

Late Tuesday afternoon, all of Mezövári was affected, whereas in the 1998 flood only half the village was damaged - the water was pouring into the Reformed church, which was unaffected in 1998. The only comforting thought is that the houses rebuilt in 1998 are probably stronger than their predecessors, and may withstand the flood; however, possessions, food stores and livestock have been lost once again.

On Tuesday, the peak of the flood passed into the next section of the River Tisza, which is in Hungary. Here they have been increasing the height and strength of the embankments ever since the floods of recent years; but at exactly the point where the work stopped before the onset of winter, the embankments broke Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning the Hungarian authorities have been evacuating people from all the villages in the region on the Hungarian side of the Hungarian-Ukrainian border; however, one wonders what the situation must be on the Ukrainian side of the border, where the villages in just as much danger or more so.

From the point of view of Transcarpathia, the next battle with the River Tisza will be fought Wednesday night - Thursday morning, when the peak of the flood reaches the stretch of the River Tisza that forms the Hungarian-Ukrainian border between Száloka and Csop. Already on Tuesday night every able-bodied man in this region of Transcarpathia was being sent to the embankments to help.

This region escaped by a hairbreadth in 1998 due to the heroic efforts of the local people and the help of Hungary; however, given the fact that the river will be even higher than in 1998, the situation seems bleak. The Reformed Church of Transcarpathia, which is perhaps the most significant organization in the affected areas, is doing all that it can to help, as it did in 1998 as well.

Church members from unaffected villages have gone to help those places in danger; the institutions of the Church are doing all that they can to feed those working on the embankments, and to give aid to those who have been evacuated and whose houses are under water. Various other organizations - local ones, Hungarian ones and foreign ones - are also doing what they can. We are grateful to God that He has heard our prayers and the rain has stopped; although further rain had been predicted for the coming few days, a large anticyclone has formed over the region, and it seems that there will be no more rain.

We also know and believe that "in all things" -even now - "God works for the good of those who love him" - and we pray that He will strengthen those working to protect their families, homes, villages and churches from the mighty River Tisza. Join them, by praying for them.

******* Latest official statistics on Wednesday morning put the number of houses flooded in Transcarpathia at 12,000, and over 11,000 people had been evacuated. Ministers reported that 30 houses have collapsed in Tiszabökény, and 210 houses collapsed in Tekeháza. Roads and railways have been swept away in the Upper Tisza region, for example around Huszt; railway tracks have been left hanging in mid-air. *******

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