Hungary on Tuesday recorded a new all-time high temperature of 42C, according to the national weather service, surpassing the previous record of 41.9C set in 2007.
The temperature reached 42C in Szecseny in northern Hungary near the border with Slovakia, the HungaroMet national weather service said in a Facebook video.
“Preliminary data indicate that both the national and the capital’s all-time high temperature records have been broken,” HungaroMet meteorologist Anna Kuntar-Molnar said in the video.
The temperature in Budapest hit 41C, breaking the record of 40.7C set in 2007, she said, adding that “the air could still get hotter” yet.
Like much of Europe, Hungary has been grappling with an unprecedented heatwave and has been on the highest warning level since the weekend.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar has urged people to moderate their water consumption and forego non-essential use, such as watering lawns and washing cars.
More than 120 settlements across Hungary have imposed restrictions on water use.
Magyar has also ordered working from home and reduced hours when possible.
“We (drink) plenty of water and refreshments; the employer provides them. We’ll take a break during rest periods, and be sure to stay in the shade,” Jozsef, a 43-year-old builder, told AFP at a construction site on Monday.
