The two buses caught fire just as BKK prepares to launch a new night schedule, which now won't take effect until November.

Both Alexandra Szentkirályi and Mayor Gergely Karácsony have called for an immediate investigation into the incidents, which experts suggest may be linked to accumulated oil sludge in the engines.

The first bus fire started in the bus's engine, and soon spread to the entire vehicle, then onto an uninhabited building and a street lamp on the corner of Jozsef Attila and Nador streets, the disaster management authority said.



That bus was carrying four people at the time of the accident, who all left it unscathed, the official statement read.

BKV is cooperating with the authorities in the investigation into the causes of the accident, the statement confirmed.



During the fire extinguishing and scene investigation on Wednesday, the disaster management closed József Attila Street, and buses 15, 16, 105, 178, 210 and 216 operating there were diverted to Erzsébet Bridge.

Unprecedented: Another Bus Caught Fire in Budapest the Next Day

An immediate investigation is required on the two BKK buses fires on successive days, Budapest's mayor Gergely Karacsony said.

Karacsony wrote on Facebook that after Wednesday, another bus had caught fire on Thursday, but fortunately nobody was injured on either day. "Our colleagues took action in a fast and professional manner," he added.

Karacsony said that it had been unprecedented since 2022 that two buses caught fire on successive days, and "this calls for an immediate investigation".

"I have asked for an immediate report from the BKV management and instructed them to take all the necessary steps," he added.

Later on Thursday, another bus caught fire in the 12th district, the disaster management authority said. The fire was spent by the time the firemen arrived, who cooled the engine with water and inspected the vehicle, the statement said.

Szentkiralyi calls for immediate investigation into Budapest public bus fires

Alexandra Szentkiralyi, the leader of the Fidesz group in the Budapest assembly, has called for an immediate investigation into the recent fires that occurred on BKK public buses.

After a "terrible incident" in downtown Budapest on Wednesday, another bus was engulfed in flames on Thursday morning, Szentkiralyi said on Facebook, calling on the mayor to take steps to ensure that Budapest residents can travel safely.

She said that though mechanical failures could occur, it was "shocking" that the vehicles used by hundreds of thousands of Budapest residents were "catching fire on a daily basis".

"This is terrifying for me as a parent, but it’s equally worrying for everyone who uses public transport on a daily basis," Szentkiralyi said. "But where is [Budapest Mayor] Gergely Karacsony? Exactly where he is all summer: on holiday," she said, adding that the summer would have been the "perfect time" for the mayor to "resolve the leadership crisis" around Budapest transport authority BKK and transport company BKV.

"And who would be responsible if someone were injured in these accidents? "Szentkiralyi said. "What is the technical condition of the buses that randomly catch fire in Budapest? An immediate investigation is needed. Budapest residents deserve answers. The mayor should take immediate steps to ensure that Budapest residents can travel safely."

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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