Authorities in western Hungary are racing to contain another asbestos contamination case after hazardous stone material originating from Austrian quarries was identified in Zalaegerszeg.

According to statements by mayor Zoltán Balaicz and reports from MTI and Telex, contaminated crushed stone used in roads and parking areas has now been confirmed in several parts of the city.

The discovery is part of a growing asbestos scandal affecting multiple regions in western Hungary after imported gravel from Austrian quarries was found to contain dangerous asbestos fibres. Read our previous, related report here!

Contaminated parking lot immediately closed

An accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of asbestos in a gravel-covered parking area located at the corner of Mártírok Road and Kisfaludy Street.

The city immediately closed the car park and began temporarily covering the area with protective foil before full asphalt sealing works could begin.

Officials decided not to use water spraying at the site because poor drainage conditions could allow contaminated fibres to spread further into surrounding streets and pavements.

According to Balaicz, the city will also prepare urgent asphalting works in Áfonya Street and Estike Street, where contamination is either confirmed or strongly suspected.

Until reconstruction begins, a temporary speed limit of 10 km/h will be introduced in the affected areas to minimise dust generation.



Private homes may also be affected

The mayor warned that asbestos-contaminated gravel may not only have been used in public infrastructure projects but also in private driveways, courtyards and paved residential surfaces.

Residents who suspect they may have used material originating from the Austrian quarries are being urged to contact local government offices.

Further testing and sampling will continue across Zalaegerszeg in the coming days, and residents may see specialists wearing protective equipment collecting samples in public areas.

Health concerns growing

Airborne asbestos fibres are considered extremely dangerous to human health and have been linked to serious illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and chronic respiratory diseases.

The danger mainly arises when contaminated material breaks down or is disturbed, releasing microscopic fibres into the air that can be inhaled.

Because of this, local authorities are prioritising rapid sealing and asphalting of contaminated surfaces.

Government allocates emergency funding

To help manage the crisis, the Hungarian government has approved HUF 100 million (EUR 281,000) in extraordinary support for Zalaegerszeg to carry out emergency asphalting and containment work.

The funding was added to a government resolution targeting the elimination of hazardous asbestos-related situations in affected regions.

However, Balaicz noted that the city had not planned for these expenses in its 2026 budget and warned that the overall remediation process could eventually cost several billion forints nationwide.

The mayor said he had formally requested extraordinary state support because the necessary engineering designs, permits and construction contracts must all be completed within a very short timeframe.

Asbestos issue spreading across western Hungary

The contaminated stone has already caused concern in several western Hungarian regions close to the Austrian border.

Previous reports indicated that similar material may have reached Szombathely and possibly Kőszeg as well.

Hungarian authorities are now investigating how widely the contaminated gravel was distributed and who may be responsible for importing and using the hazardous material.

Under a recently published government decree, the state will assume the costs of defence and damage control efforts related to the contamination.

If you missed it: Hungarian city faces health risk after asbestos-linked gravel traced to Austrian quarries

How this could affect people living in Hungary

For residents living in affected areas, the situation may bring road closures, reconstruction works, traffic restrictions and increased health concerns over the coming months.

People living near contaminated roads, parking lots or driveways may worry about long-term exposure risks, especially families with children and elderly residents.

Property owners could also face unexpected expenses if contaminated gravel was used on private land and replacement works become necessary.

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