Five die in Hungary amid freeze

Five people have died in Hungary amid freezing conditions, authorities reported on Sunday.

Three people died over the past 24 hours in the freeze, Pal Gyorfi, spokesman for the National Ambulance Services told MTI on Sunday. Police reported two more deaths later in the day.

One man died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in Devavanya, another in a fire in Debrecen, and another man was found frozen to death in his home in Bocskaikert, all in the same area of eastern Hungary.

Police reported one man freezing to death after falling unconscious in his courtyard in Mosonmagyarovar in the northwest and one homeless man died in a fire that he and his mates had lit to keep warm in an abandoned building in Debrecen.

Gyorfi emergency services had received many calls after householders suffered carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty heaters. The ambulance services received about 20 percent more emergency calls than on an average day, he added.

More than fifty calls were from people suffering as a result of the extremely cold weather; many were hospitalised with frostbite, he said.

Thirteen primary schools in eastern Hajdu-Bihar county have reported school closures due to the cold spell.

Police and the fire services have stepped up efforts to take homeless people into shelters.

Meteorologists have forecast 15 cm of snow for Budapest, and up to 50 cm in the south, southeastern counties to fall by Sunday. Snowdrifts are making smaller roads difficult to pass.