Horrifying mystery haunts the Danube: Bodies keep washing ashore in Hungary

For decades, a chilling mystery has surrounded the Danube near Mohács: unidentified bodies and human remains repeatedly surface from the river, and to this day, police have been unable to determine who they were. For locals and authorities alike, the river continues to raise more questions than answers.

Eight active investigations

The Mohács Police Department is currently investigating eight cases involving unidentified bodies recovered from the river. The oldest of these dates back to 1996, when the body of a woman believed to be between 55 and 60 years old was found along the riverbank, according to BAMA. Experts determined she had likely been dead for weeks, but her identity was never uncovered.

In 2014, authorities discovered another body along the Mohács–Nagypartos stretch of the Danube. The victim had likely entered the water just hours before being found, but due to severe decomposition, forensic experts were only able to conclude that the deceased was a person aged between 45 and 60.

The chilling summer of 2017

One of the most unsettling periods came in the summer of 2017, when two unidentified male bodies were recovered near Dunaszekcső. In May, a man standing nearly 6 foot 3 and estimated to be around 55 years old was discovered. Investigators believe he’d been dead for approximately two weeks, according to Index. Just a few months later, at the end of August, another male body surfaced in the same location. This man, about 60 years old, appeared to have been in the water only for a few days and remained recognisable, yet, his identity also remains unknown.

The mystery of Szúnyog Island

In 2018, human remains belonging to a woman were discovered on Szúnyog Island near Kölked. Based on the bones and clothing found, experts believe she had died five to ten years earlier. The island has since remained a place shrouded in mystery.

Tragedy continues in the present

The Danube and its surroundings continue to claim lives. In August of this year, authorities pulled the body of a man around 60 years old from Lake Pécs in Orfű. Paramedics were only able to confirm his death on the scene. Police are investigating the circumstances as part of an administrative inquiry.

The river’s lasting enigma

For decades, the Danube near Mohács has guarded its dark secrets. Despite ongoing investigations, police have yet to identify many of the victims or determine how they died. Beyond being a vital part of the region’s life, the river remains a perpetual scene of unanswered tragedies.

Read also:

• Fatal accident: experienced pilot and young passenger lose their lives in plane crash
• New details emerge about the recent Danube boat accident claiming multiple lives, including that of a young child

Featured image: Illustration. Wikimedia Commons

To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: Helló Magyar