Water and Power Crisis in Europe: Danube Dries Up, Huge Explosion to Save Nuclear Reactor

Drought and extreme heat waves in Europe have lowered the Danube's water level in Budapest to a record low of 10 cm, threatening Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, which provides about a third of the country's electricity. Romania blasted a rock in the Danube to divert water to the Cernavodă reactor, and Serbia urged citizens to save electricity. Massive wildfires rage in Greece and the Netherlands, and Vienna recorded a new heat record of 40.1°C.

A severe energy and water crisis is hitting Central and Eastern Europe amid a prolonged drought and extreme heat waves. The Danube, one of the continent's largest rivers, has dropped in Budapest to a historic low of just 10 centimeters, compared to the previous record low of 33 centimeters in 2018. Hungary's only nuclear power plant, Paks, built in the Soviet era with four reactors, has reached the brink of a complete shutdown for the first time in its 44 years of operation, producing only 240 megawatts today instead of the usual 2,000. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said engineers managed to keep one turbine running, but a full shutdown is expected as early as tomorrow or the day after. The plant accounts for nearly half of Hungary's electricity generation and about a third of its consumption. Romania was forced to blast a huge rock in the Danube to divert water to the Cernavodă nuclear reactor, which is currently operating at about half capacity. Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared a national state of alert in the energy sector, and car manufacturers Dacia and Ford halted production until August 19. Serbia is dealing with a hydroelectric plant operating at 20% of its output, and Prime Minister Đuro Macut called on citizens to reduce air conditioning use. Massive wildfires are raging in Greece and the Netherlands, and Vienna recorded a new heat record of 40.1°C.