BUDAPEST, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian authorities on Tuesday extended a nationwide second-degree heat alert until midnight on June 26 and announced that the warning level would be raised to a third-degree, the highest level, from June 27 through June 30 as extreme temperatures persist across the country.
The National Public Health and Pharmacy Center and the National Directorate General for Disaster Management said the decision was based on forecasts by Hungary's meteorological service HungaroMet.
Authorities warned that prolonged extreme heat could place significant physical and mental strain on the population, particularly children, the elderly, pregnant women and people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
Since the heat alert was first issued on Saturday, firefighters have been called nearly 100 times to check on elderly people living alone who had failed to respond to relatives or neighbors, the statement said.
Residents were urged to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and seek shelter in air-conditioned facilities where possible.
The authorities also warned of an elevated wildfire risk, noting that fire bans remain in effect in several counties, and reminded the public never to leave children or pets unattended in parked vehicles.
Hungary operates a three-tier heat warning system, with third-degree alerts issued when extreme temperatures are expected to pose a serious risk to public health. ■