Severe storm batters Szeged, hundreds of damage reports – another powerful storm possible today

NewsSzeged

Jul 8

A powerful storm swept through Szeged on Monday, toppling trees, damaging power lines and buildings, and triggering around 400 calls for help – with forecasters warning another storm of similar strength is possible today.

High winds broke massive tree branches and uprooted entire trees throughout the city, blocking roads and damaging parked cars. On Vitéz Street, fallen branches brought down power lines, forcing authorities to close part of the road when a high-voltage cable was left dangling.

The University of Szeged reported that the storm tore the roof off one of its unused buildings undergoing renovation for dormitory use. The moment the roof came off was recoded by a resident of the neighbouring building. Other university buildings also sustained damage, including broken roof tiles and fallen branches.

The storm also hit the Szabadság floating house on the Tisza River, tearing away part of its dock and leaving motorboats drifting freely. Tram and Tramtrain service on lines 1 and 2 was halted due to overhead line damage but has since resumed.

At the Szegedi Vízitelep – the city's kayak-canoe training site – everyone on the water was rescued safely, but the facility sustained major damage. Authorities have called for volunteers to help with cleanup efforts, especially requesting generators and chainsaws.

By late afternoon, county disaster management officials had received roughly 400 emergency calls, with the worst-hit areas in Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely. Most reports were for fallen trees and large branches blocking streets or damaging vehicles, including near the University of Szeged’s Faculty of Law.

Traffic remained disrupted both downtown and in outlying areas as crews worked through the night to clear debris. Professional and volunteer firefighters continue working to restore safe conditions. No injuries were reported.

Drivers are urged to slow down and avoid parking under trees or billboards. Residents are warned not to shelter under trees during lightning, but to seek refuge in buildings, and to unplug electronics to avoid damage from lightning strikes.

The Szeged Botanical Garden announced it will be closed for a few days for restoration, as yesterday’s storm also caused significant damage there.

Nationally, the storm caused widespread damage, with nearly 3,000 incidents reported. MÁV declared Budapest and the Lake Balaton region railway disaster zones after fallen trees blocked tracks and damaged overhead lines, suspending train services and requiring emergency bus replacements. Dozens of homes lost their roofs in other parts of the country, and power and water service disruptions were reported.

Forecasters have issued warnings for more severe thunderstorms today, with the potential for damaging winds, heavy rain, and hail across parts of the country, including Szeged. Residents can check detailed and up-to-date storm alerts at met.hu or on the Hungarian Meteorological Service’s Facebook page, which posts frequent updates and local warnings.

Authorities are urging everyone to stay weather-aware and to call 112 immediately if they see anyone – person or animal – in danger.