Drought-stricken Hungary is opening up a series of intriguing new, but deadly routes even for fit and experienced hikers. Several people have already found themselves in trouble, and the latest incident came perilously close to ending in tragedy.
She almost sank into the mud
A few days ago, it was reported that a 35-year-old woman from Dunaújváros nearly disappeared into the vast expanse of mud at the shrinking Lake Velence after deciding to cross it. An off-duty police officer and a local resident eventually pulled her to safety, after which paramedics took her to hospital for further examination, the Hungarian police wrote.
The incident is a stark illustration of the dangers facing drought-stricken Hungary. As lakes and rivers recede, previously inaccessible areas are opening up, creating what may appear to be exciting new opportunities for walks and excursions. In reality, most of them are extraordinarily hazardous. Had no one nearby heard the woman’s cries for help, she would almost certainly not be alive to recount the experience as a warning to others.
Record-low water levels are also exposing places that had previously remained hidden, prompting magnet fishers and collectors to set out in search of discoveries. Most recently, a German Second World War motorbike was found on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, alongside various other items of equipment and human remains. Elsewhere, warships, bombs and other objects have emerged from the water – all of which may pose a danger to virtually anyone other than trained specialists.
New, but deadly routes in the Danube riverbed and in Lake Velence
Walking along the exposed banks of the shrinking Danube, or attempting to wade across Lake Velence, may seem tempting. But the receding waters have created dangers that have never previously been encountered. Experts warn that a single wrong step could put someone’s life at risk.
Entering the lakebed at Lake Velence remains prohibited, and the area becomes particularly dangerous beyond 100 metres from the shore. Although the surface may look completely dry, cracked and hard in many places, this is merely a thin crust. Beneath it, the mud may still be wet, soft and sticky.
The lakebed may also contain so-called mud wells, which can be as much as two or three metres deeper than the lake’s average depth, according to Blikk.
Panic can make you even more vulnerable
Several people have already had to be rescued from the mud at Lake Velence this year. A young woman and a man from Budapest both got into difficulty; the latter was freed by water police before receiving medical attention.
One of the greatest dangers posed by the mud is the vacuum it can create around a person’s legs. The harder someone struggles and tries to move their feet, the deeper they may sink. Decomposing organic matter can also release dangerous gases, including methane and hydrogen sulphide, while the lakebed may contain shards of glass, rusty metal objects and fishing hooks.
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Rescue operations are far from straightforward. Lifeguards do not approach those in trouble on foot, but use boats, ladders, planks, ropes and other equipment. Panic and unnecessary movement can make the situation even worse.
It may look dry and shallow at first
The Danube’s unusually low water level can be just as deceptive. Wide stretches of riverbank have been exposed at several points, attracting walkers and even cyclists. But the clay banks are being eroded from below by the river’s current, creating apparently solid ledges of earth that may collapse without warning, infostart.hu wrote.
This is particularly dangerous because someone standing in water only a few centimetres deep could suddenly plunge into several metres of fast-flowing water. The cold can cause cramp, while the current may sweep a person away – or carry them beneath a collapsing section of riverbank.
The danger at both locations lies precisely in the false sense of security created by ground that appears dry or water that seems shallow. Experts therefore warn that exceptionally low water levels do not make a river or lakebed safer. On the contrary, they can expose hidden hazards that remain invisible under normal conditions.
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Featured image: illustration, source: Facebook/Kürti Gábor Dezső
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