Lake Balaton sees rescue of surfman amid rising concerns over water levels

On July 1, a young surfer was caught in a second‑degree storm on Lake Balaton. The wave pulled him offshore and he lost his tether. Sailors from the Balatonalmádi harbor, led by Zoltán Sári, spotted him, alerted the harbor manager and launched a motor‑boat rescue that brought the surfer safely to shore.

Separately, experts warn that prolonged heat waves and drought could lower Balaton’s water level over the coming decades. Geologist Gábor Vass notes that while the lake’s current depth remains several metres, reduced rainfall and higher temperatures could eventually cause a significant drop, reminiscent of the crisis at Velencei‑tó. He stresses the need for careful water‑resource management but says a rapid disappearance of the lake is not imminent.