Hungary battles widespread wildfires amid extreme heat, one death reported

Extreme heat and prolonged drought have sparked a wave of outdoor fires across Hungary. In Csongrád‑Csanád County firefighters were alerted 69 times in a single week, battling blazes that consumed fields, reeds, scrub and threatened a farm building. The National Disaster Management Authority recorded 21 forest and vegetation fires in one day, with major incidents in Bács‑Kiskun, Baranya, Borsod‑Abaúj‑Zemplén, Fejér, Komárom‑Esztergom and Szabolcs‑Szatmár‑Bereg counties.

A fatal incident occurred near Kiskunfélegyháza, where an 84‑year‑old man lost his life as a fire spread across roughly five hectares of farmland, forest and railway ballast. Firefighters also rescued 19 people, eight horses and about 100 dogs in Ercsi, and protected livestock and a dog shelter in other locations. The fires have been attributed to human negligence, such as discarded cigarettes or sparks from machinery, and authorities have urged the public to avoid open flames during the heatwave.