VIDEOS: Budapest buses caught fire, one after the other

We previously reported that three BKV buses caught fire in rapid succession in downtown Budapest last week. On Saturday, a fourth bus joined the list at Blaha Lujza Square. Today, yet another incident occurred—this time, a bus broke down when its doors failed to open, trapping passengers inside. ATV has investigated the causes.

Yet another BKV bus goes up in smoke in Budapest

Anna Szepesfalvy, a Fidesz representative on the Budapest City Council, posted a video of the bus that filled with smoke on Saturday at the Blaha Lujza Square bus stop. Citing media reports, she suggested that the engine compartments may not have been properly cleaned. She went on to blame Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and the city leadership for the repeated incidents.

As previously reported, the first BKV bus fire occurred on 13 August in the heart of the city, at József Nádor Square in District V. Passengers were evacuated, but the blaze was so intense that a nearby building was scorched by the flames. The following day, another bus caught fire in District XII, followed shortly after by yet another in the same area. In each case, the engine compartments ignited.

Here’s a video of the incident:

Saturday’s fire at Blaha Lujza Square added a fourth case to the sequence. Today, it was followed by another breakdown in Budafok involving a 251A bus. What made this latest incident even more concerning was that not only did the vehicle break down, but its doors also failed to open, trapping passengers inside for ten minutes as the bus filled with smoke.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony had already called for an investigation into the incidents last week.

Perhaps it is time to stop running 15-year-old retired buses

ATV’s investigation found that the second and third fires involved Mercedes buses purchased by the city 15 years ago. These vehicles had already been deemed beyond repair and retired in Germany after a decade of service. Out of necessity, BKV kept them in operation, despite the fact that they were already past their prime when acquired.

The fires are most likely linked to heavy residue accumulating in the engine compartments—from air conditioners, turbochargers, and other components—which creates a serious fire hazard in extreme heat after 25 years of use.

On Facebook, Dávid Vitézy, a member of the city council, previously pointed out that in 2021 the city had the opportunity to purchase 380 new buses through a 30 billion forint loan. However, the central government delayed approval for nearly a year before ultimately rejecting the proposal.

Given the city’s current financial difficulties—further strained by the so-called solidarity tax, which has been raised several times—it is virtually impossible for Budapest to modernise its fleet or replace unsafe vehicles on its own. Government support is essential. The financial pressure is so severe that officials have even expressed concern about struggling to pay bus drivers’ wages, let alone upgrade the fleet.

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