Hungary's top two weather experts have been fired after a mistaken forecast led to the postponement of a major fireworks display. The event, billed as 'Europe's biggest fireworks show', was scheduled for Saturday evening to celebrate St Stephen's Day, the national holiday.
Seven hours before the planned start, the government postponed the event, citing extreme weather warnings. However, the weather remained calm in Budapest, sparking political uproar. The head and deputy head of the National Meteorological Service were sacked with immediate effect by Innovation Minister Laszlo Palkovics on Monday.
The rainstorm that was predicted changed direction and struck parts of eastern Hungary instead, missing the capital entirely. The service posted a public apology on Facebook, explaining that the 'least likely' outcome had occurred and that uncertainty is inherent in weather forecasting.
Nearly 100,000 people had signed a petition calling for the fireworks to be cancelled, citing the war in Ukraine and domestic austerity. Government supporters, however, were furious at the forecasters' perceived incompetence and hope the display will proceed as planned next Saturday.
