The record was also broken for Budapest early on Sunday with the mercury falling to -18.6 degrees at Ferihegy. The previous record, also measured at Ferihegy, had been -18.5 C in 1985. The average lowest temperature on this date was -4.2 C, as against -16.8 C this year.

The Ecumenical Charity has set up temporary shelters for people in need and the Menhely Foundation said on Saturday that there are still places available in the homeless shelters they operate.

The Ecumenical Charity told MTI that their heated tents are open non-stop in Csepel in Budapest, in Gyula in south-east Hungary, in Debrecen in the east and in Berehovo (Beregszász) in western Ukraine.

The tents also include sanitary facilities and food is available for those in need. Menhely director Zoltán Aknai said their shelters around the country were 90% full on Friday night.

The disaster management authority said on Saturday that electricity services had been restored throughout the country by noon after temporary power cuts reported from Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in the northeast, Fejér County in central Hungary and Győr-Moson- Sopron County in the west.

The authority opened temporary heated facilities and set up power generators in places where the power cut lasted for a longer period, deputy spokesman Dániel Mukics said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Komka Péter

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