The Hungarian government has ordered a coordinated nationwide response to the ongoing heatwave, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced during a government press briefing in Budapest on Thursday.
Magyar said he is personally directing the response, supported by a coordination body that includes the ministers responsible for the interior, healthcare, economy and energy, defence, transport and investment, as well as the national security adviser.
He urged the public to closely follow official heatwave updates, remain indoors whenever possible, and pay particular attention to elderly relatives and neighbours.
Local coordination will be managed by regional defence committees bringing together the Hungarian Armed Forces, disaster management authorities, ambulance services, and firefighters, while the Defence Administration Office will continuously report developments to the government.
From midnight on Friday, an extraordinary public information system will launch on the government’s heatwave website and official social media channels, providing regular updates throughout the emergency period.
The prime minister also announced that the cabinet will hold a three-day informal off-site meeting in Pilisszentkereszt beginning on Friday evening, during which ministers will continue to monitor the situation and take immediate action if necessary.
‘From midnight on Friday, an extraordinary public information system will launch on the government’s heatwave website’
The government has ordered remote work for public administration bodies and state-owned companies on Monday and Tuesday, wherever operationally possible.
Magyar also reminded employers of their legal obligation to ensure safe working conditions during the heat, including the provision of drinking water. He encouraged businesses to consider shortened working hours and rescheduling outdoor work where feasible.
The Hungarian Armed Forces, municipalities, and charitable organizations are distributing bottled water across the country, including at public spaces, railway stations, bus terminals, and along the networks operated by MÁV, Volán, and GYSEV. Water distribution points are also prepared for motorway traffic jams if required. The military has been instructed to produce and stockpile several million bags of drinking water at strategic locations nationwide.
The prime minister said water restrictions currently affect only a limited number of areas, with 26 locations in and around Zalaegerszeg and Zalaszentgrót experiencing supply issues. He added that the Hungarian Armed Forces and the National Water Utility currently have 26 mobile water supply units available for emergency deployment. Magyar deemed this capacity insufficient and instructed the relevant authorities to prepare plans to expand the fleet.
Social care institutions are receiving mobile air-conditioning units where necessary, while repair work continues at hospitals and care facilities. According to the government, no major problems have emerged so far. Street outreach teams and crisis vehicles are also assisting homeless people, who are considered among the groups most vulnerable to extreme heat.
The prime minister asked municipalities to keep air-conditioned areas within town halls open to the public throughout the weekend. He also called on shops and restaurants to provide free drinking water and allow public access to restroom facilities.
More than 2,200 air-conditioned public locations are currently available nationwide, with a full list published by the government and the national disaster management authority. Magyar stressed that maintaining hospital cooling systems remains a priority, with repair teams responding to equipment failures daily.
With numerous large public events scheduled for the weekend, organizers are coordinating with regional defence committees. The prime minister also encouraged organizers to consider postponing children’s events and youth sporting competitions during the hottest days. Disaster management personnel and military units will be deployed to major events to distribute water and, where necessary, cool public areas. The government also announced a temporary suspension of the weekend truck driving ban.
Magyar warned that speed restrictions on railways are expected due to overheated tracks, and that some train services, including HÉV suburban railway lines, could be cancelled.
Responding to questions about drought damage, the prime minister said the government had already discussed compensation measures at recent cabinet meetings. Following damage assessments, both advance payments and full compensation will be made available.
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Magyar said the government has requested a comprehensive medium- and long-term climate adaptation, water management, and irrigation strategy to be completed by early autumn with input from experts.
He also acknowledged that artificial water replenishment is currently not feasible at Lake Velence, adding that water levels are expected to fall by another 10 to 12 centimetres. Authorities plan to remove emerging sandbars mechanically where necessary and increase water aeration in open sections of the lake.
At the briefing, Major General Krisztián Erdélyi, Deputy Director-General for Operations at the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, said emergency services are fully prepared to respond to extreme situations around the clock with a two-minute mobilization capability.
He also warned that, despite a nationwide fire ban, the number of fires continues to rise, with most incidents linked to human activity.
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