Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-05-01 / 9. szám
FLOOD AGAIN The Tisza river broke through the dykes at Tarpa. A 30 kilometer length of the retaining wall collapsed and flooded 120 square kilometers reaching 52 settlements. 5,857 private buildings and 59 government buildings were flooded and a big portion of the dyke collapsed. Many more remained in dangerous conditions. Here are the names of some settlements on the Hungarian side: Tarpa, Lónya, Szalóka, Eszeny, Tákos, Csoroda, Sonkád, Gulács, Beregdaróc, Marokpapi, Hete, Fejércse, Jánd, Barabás, Beregsurány, Tiszabecs, Tivadar that were affected. Maintaining the dykes is not new to the Hungarian people. Pal Vásárhelyi (1795-1846) an engineer worked out the plans to regulate the Tisza river. This helped the people on the Great Plains to live in a secured land and be able to carry on an intensive agriculture. Vásárhelyi also started the plans for the Lower Danube. A monument honoring him is on the island in South Hungary at the city of Baja. The flood damaged 13 Protestant churches and one Catholic church. The difference in proportion is probably because the catholic churches were built first. Most of them stood on the highest land in the area. Damage was also suffered by five belfries, three castles and twenty two peasant houses that were centuries old. To replace the buildings would cost $13.5million. The reconstruction reaches $27 million, to restore damage in the agricultural field amounts to $20.5 million. The roads and bridges in the care of the councils is $50.5 million, and those belonging to the stateadds up to $12 million. We still haven’t been talking about the personal loses that the people have to deal with. Just think all their clothing went down with the water. It is admirable how people in our community responded to this great tragedy. All organizations, churches took it on themselves to collect and forward donations. Many members in our community have ties to people in the stricken area. Everybody who want to help can easily find their way. The Hungarian government found a way to help people on the Ukranian side of the Tisza river. As we all know those were settlements populated by Hungarians. The number on the other side is approximately six fold. There are currently 33,286 homes in 245 settlements still wholly or partly flooded. Of that number, 1,548 have completely collapsed. Nearly 11,000 people in eight districts had to be evacuated. Page 3 The area where the dyke broke The last ot the people who tied to house roofs and trees from the raging flood that swept the Ukrainian town of Tyachiv after the Tisza river burst its banks were rescued by the Hungarian helicopters of the Hungarian Rapid Reaction Police that helped in this operations. Using rope-ladders, the helicopters rescued people from housetops and trees, carrying them to safe places. The Hungarian government also sent ten hugh pumps to the Ukranian government to help the flooded area. We hope that all the people who ar hurt will find comfort knowing that we are here to help. Joseph F. Balogh
