Severe heatwave triggers emergency measures in Hungary

A severe heatwave has gripped Central Europe, with temperatures in Hungary expected to reach up to 41 degrees Celsius over the coming days. In response to the extreme weather, Hungarian authorities have issued a nationwide ban on open-air fires and implemented measures to manage the strain on power and water supplies.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar has requested that industrial facilities voluntarily reduce electricity consumption to prevent a potential energy crisis. The situation is particularly critical in the city of Szentendre, where thousands of residents are currently without water. The military has been deployed to assist, utilizing tanker trucks and distributing 7,000 bags of drinking water until the supply issues are resolved. Additionally, concerns remain regarding the water levels of the Danube, which are currently too low to support the full restart of the Paks nuclear power plant, a situation projected to continue for several weeks.

These emergency actions follow the meteorological agency HungaroMet’s forecast of prolonged extreme temperatures. The government is attempting to balance infrastructure stability with immediate humanitarian aid as the region braces for the peak of the heatwave.