Hungary faced severe winter conditions on Wednesday as heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures disrupted transport nationwide, prompting authorities to activate a "red code" cold-weather alert and step up emergency response measures.
According to the national meteorological service HungaroMet, an additional 10 centimeters of snow fell overnight in many areas, on top of an earlier 5-10 cm snow cover. Snow depth has reached 15-25 cm across most of the country, with around 30 cm reported in parts of western and southwestern Hungary. Further snowfall and blowing snow are forecast, particularly in eastern and southeastern regions.
The red code alert entered into force at 08:00 Wednesday, requiring social institutions to admit people exposed to extreme cold regardless of standard procedures. Emergency services, police and disaster management authorities were placed on heightened alert, while road and public transport operators were instructed to prioritize access to hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure.
The severe winter storm has caused severe disruption across much of Hungary. In Budapest, icy and slippery roads have made daily commutes hazardous, forcing residents to weigh the risks of leaving home each day.
"Yesterday when I was trying to get home, this was like that deep in snow -- 20 centimeters easy. So cars were backing up on the hill, and there was no way (of) just going around. And, (I'm) praying do not slit and slide and crash or something," said Peter, a Budapest resident.
Earlier this week, emergency services responded to nearly 4,700 rescue calls in a single day, many involving traffic accidents and stranded vehicles.
Local officials said that crews will work around the clock to clear roads and keep critical routes open. Meanwhile, the city’s meteorological department has warned that the cold front will continue to sweep across the region.
The storm's impact is also evident on rail transport. At the city’s main train stations, departure boards showed widespread delays and cancellations.
"I just came from a 10-day retreat, and overnight we got 20 centimeters of snow. And, it took us hours and hours just to get out of the parking lot," said Aron, a train commuter.
Hungary activates 'red code' as heavy snow disrupts transport nationwide
Several nations and international organizations have voiced strong condemnation against recent U.S. military actions targeting Venezuela, emphasizing the importance of international law and diplomatic solutions.
The United States launched military operations in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on Jan 3. The Venezuelan government said the strikes hit civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. The U.S. attack has left 100 dead, Venezuela's interior ministry said Wednesday.
"The international law, the rules, the rules and regulations of the international system should be really respected. We at the African Union disapprove completely the kidnapping of a sitting president. We issued and released a communique, asking the global powers, influential countries to respect the rule of law, to respect the international law, and also to respect the immunity of sitting presidents everywhere," said African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
According to Russian media reports, Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov, after meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Friday, noted that the U.S. actions have resulted in the deaths of approximately one hundred Venezuelan civilians and military personnel.
He stressed that these tragic consequences must be severely condemned and thoroughly investigated. The ambassador added that the United States' neo-colonial, command-and-control approach clearly does not contribute to the normalization of Venezuelan oil sales, and such actions violate international law.
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola on Friday reiterated his country's commitment to a rules-based international order grounded in international law and multilateralism, with the United Nations (UN) at its center.
Delivering a keynote address on the 2026 Foreign Policy Outlook in Rustenburg, North West Province, Lamola said the doctrine of "might is right" must not be allowed to prevail, and that the rule of law remains fundamental to global stability, legitimacy, and governance.
He said that the unilateral military actions by the U.S. against Venezuela risk reducing the UN Charter to ashes. In the current situation, it is of unprecedented importance and urgency for countries to adhere to resolving disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomatic means.
Multiple nations, organizations condemn U.S. military actions against Venezuela
