Firing of Hungarian weather forecasters sets off storm at home and abroad

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, May 30, 2019. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The firing of Hungary's two top weather forecasters after a big storm predicted by the National Meteorological Service did not materialise has drawn protests at home and abroad, with meteorologists calling for their reinstatement.

Authorities had cancelled a major national day fireworks last Saturday because of the forecast of a severe storm. Two days later, the government fired the National Meteorological Service chief, Kornelia Radics, and her deputy, Gyula Horvath.