The Danube River reached a 10-year high in Budapest, Hungary, following deadly Storm Boris, which brought torrential rains and strong winds to the region. The rising waters flooded the embankment, coming up to the steps of the Hungarian parliament before starting to recede on Saturday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who canceled all international travel to oversee the flood response, inspected the flood protection efforts in Budapest. He noted the challenging days ahead as emergency workers fortified dykes with sandbags to protect settlements.

"The focus is on controlling the flood," Orban said, stressing the importance of ensuring the dykes hold against the swollen Danube.

Since last week, Storm Boris has wreaked havoc across Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, demolishing homes, fields, and vital infrastructure. The floods are considered the worst to hit the region in at least two decades. In Poland alone, more than 18,000 buildings and facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to early government estimates.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed "massive aid" for the affected areas, while Hungarian emergency workers worked tirelessly to fortify flood defenses in Budapest and other settlements along the river.

In response to the disaster, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday that 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in funds would be made available to assist EU member nations affected by the devastation.

Experts have linked the severity of the floods to climate change, noting that rising greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like torrential rains and floods.

Rescue and relief operations are ongoing across the affected countries as the region grapples with the aftermath of the storm and the continuing threat of rising waters. (ILKHA)