Hungarian Post tragedy: two postal workers died during extreme heatwave

Two postal workers died while on duty during last week’s extreme heatwave in Hungary, a tragedy confirmed by Magyar Posta after reports began spreading on social media.

The exact circumstances of the deaths have not yet been made public. Magyar Posta told the newspaper that it had lost two colleagues in recent days, but said it could not provide further details until the relevant investigations are completed. The company expressed condolences to the families and said it would support both the relatives and the colleagues of the deceased workers.

The Hungarian Post tragedy comes after several days of exceptional heat, with temperatures in Hungary reaching around 40 degrees Celsius. The country was under a third-level heat alert, the highest category used by Hungarian public health authorities, which was extended until midnight on 1 July, according to the Hungarian government.

Hungarian Post tragedy highlights risks for outdoor workers

Postal delivery workers are among those most exposed to extreme summer weather. Unlike office-based employees, they often spend hours outdoors, carrying heavy bags and moving between streets, courtyards and apartment blocks.

For foreign readers, Magyar Posta is Hungary’s national postal service and one of the country’s major employers. Its delivery staff work across cities, villages and rural areas, meaning that heatwave measures can affect not only workers but also mail and parcel delivery times nationwide.

Blikk reported that postal workers had complained on social media about the physical burden of working in extreme heat, including heavy delivery bags and drinking water that quickly became warm in the sun. A delivery worker from Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County told the newspaper that local managers had informed staff about heat-related measures and offered adjusted working arrangements.

She also said that residents can sometimes provide important help by offering cold drinks or a short chance to cool down, especially on the hottest days.

Magyar Posta introduced emergency measures

Magyar Posta had already introduced temporary measures because of the heat. In an official notice published on its website, the company said that post offices without air conditioning would close at 12 pm on 29 June, 30 June and 1 July, with no afternoon customer service at the affected locations. Customers were asked to handle postal matters in the morning or use air-conditioned branches where possible. (Magyar Posta)

The company also warned that delivery times for letters and parcels could increase during the extreme heat because work processes had been temporarily reorganised to protect employees.

According to Blikk, Magyar Posta said it provided cold drinking water, flexible starting times, summer workwear, SPF 50 sunscreen where needed, longer and more frequent rest periods, and information about air-conditioned rest locations. The company also introduced early starts and weight limits on the hottest days, with delivery workers only sent out with mail volumes that allowed them to return safely during the morning.

A delivery worker quoted by Blikk said that during the heat alert, staff were required to deliver only urgent items, or at least attempt delivery, and had to return to the post office by 11 am.

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The government launches an investigation

Péter Magyar announced at Thursday’s government press conference: at the prime minister’s instruction, István Kapitány ordered an immediate investigation into the deaths of two postal workers who died during last week’s extreme heat wave.

Magyar said he was deeply shaken by the news. He also noted that, according to initial reports, the deaths were not directly related to the heat wave, but as soon as the final results of the investigation are available, the government will inform the public.

Telex contacted the Hungarian Post’s press office regarding the matter, and they did not answer the question of whether the deaths occurred while the employees were on the job or whether they were related to the heat wave.

“In accordance with the relevant regulations, both the competent county occupational safety authority and Magyar Posta are conducting investigations. Our company is cooperating fully with the authorities during the official investigation,” they wrote.

Heatwaves are becoming a workplace safety issue

The tragedy has renewed attention on how employers should protect staff during increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. Outdoor workers, elderly people, people with chronic illnesses and those living in poorly cooled homes are especially vulnerable during prolonged hot spells.

Hungarian authorities warned that the heatwave was putting pressure not only on people, but also on transport, healthcare, energy systems and water supply. In some areas, water restrictions were introduced because demand rose sharply during the hot weather.

The case also raises a wider question for public services: how to maintain essential operations while protecting workers from dangerous conditions. Postal deliveries, public transport, construction, waste collection and emergency services all face similar challenges when temperatures remain dangerously high for several days.

For now, Magyar Posta has not released further details about the two deaths. Until the investigations are completed, it cannot be stated what direct role, if any, the heat played in the tragedies. What is already clear, however, is that last week’s extreme weather placed an unusually heavy burden on postal workers and forced the national postal service to change both opening hours and delivery routines.

The deaths of the two workers have turned a heatwave service disruption into a national workplace safety issue.

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