Freezing rain causes traffic problems nationwide

Budapest, December 2 (MTI) – Sleet and freezing rain have left streets in western Budapest’s hills and many roads across the country impassable, while disaster management staff have been busy removing fallen trees in many places.

Several streets in Budapest’s 2nd and 12th districts were closed for traffic on Tuesday morning, the disaster management authority reported on its website. During the night, their staff went to nearly 200 locations to help with streets blocked by broken branches or fix electric lines, the website said, adding that people at 235 further locations were being assisted. Over 6,300 families in Budapest were left without power during the night, the authority added. Several bus lines in Buda operate on modified routes.

Many roads are covered with ice and closed for traffic in northern Hungary’s Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen and Heves counties, and in central Hungary’s Pest county.

The disaster management authority has warned drivers and pedestrians to take extra care when leaving their homes.

Extreme weather has damaged high-voltage wires in central Hungary and repair operations may last months, Hungary’s electricity grid operator told MTI.

Ice frozen on the wires brought down suspension poles, obstructing traffic on the M31 road, the company said.

Electricity supply, however, is uninterrrupted in the affected area, it added.

In northern Hungary’s Bukk hills, several hundred people were left without electric power, a local disaster management official told MTI on Tuesday.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters