Europe’s water crisis deepens as Danube hits record low and nuclear plant faces shutdown

Europe is facing an unprecedented water shortage as extreme heat and drought conditions have caused the Danube River to reach its lowest level on record, with water levels dropping to just 10 centimetres in some areas. Hungary is preparing to shut down its only nuclear power plant within the next two days, a facility that normally supplies one-third of the country’s electricity. Romania has resorted to blowing up massive rocks in the Danube to divert cooling water to its Cernavoda nuclear reactor, highlighting the desperate measures authorities are taking to keep critical infrastructure operational.
The crisis is rippling across multiple sectors of the European economy. Major automotive manufacturers have halted car production due to disruptions in supply chains and power constraints, while Serbian citizens have been urged to abandon air conditioning use to preserve electricity. The extreme heat has also triggered massive wildfires in Greece and the Netherlands, with temperatures in Vienna reaching 40.1 degrees Celsius, well above the seasonal average. Energy experts warn that without significant rainfall, more power plants could face forced shutdowns in the coming weeks, potentially causing widespread blackouts across the continent.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.