Underground Structures During Floods

Abstract

In many parts of the world, flood situations with extreme devastating consequences on people's lives, buildings, and the natural environment occurred in 2023. During the floods, water levels rose up to 5 meters above ground level. One cannot forget the flood in 2002 in Prague, during which 18 metro stations and 19.6 km of track tunnels were flooded. In Bratislava, in the immediate vicinity of the Danube, a four-story underground garage with an unburdened surface was built in front of the Carlton Hotel. There are several lighter objects with multiple basements near the Danube. During extreme floods, these structures can be seriously damaged or destroyed. This contribution provides an overview of the development of extreme flow rates in the Danube, failures and the measures aimed at protecting underground structures during floods.