Hungary shuts nuclear plant as Danube water falls during heatwave
Hungary has halted output at its only nuclear station after extreme heat and drought pushed the Danube to a record low, reducing cooling water supplies.
Hungary has stopped operations at its sole nuclear power plant after a prolonged heatwave and drought left the Danube River too low to provide enough cooling water, officials said on Sunday. The shutdown came as the country faced unusually high temperatures and dry conditions across much of Europe.
The plant, which relies on the river for cooling, was taken offline when water levels dropped to a historic low, according to reports from France 24 and Asharq Al-Awsat. It was the first time Hungary had ordered a closure of the facility for this reason.
The disruption adds to wider pressure on energy systems in Europe, where hot weather has strained power supplies and water resources. The Danube is one of the region’s key waterways and is used for industry, transport and energy infrastructure.
Hungary’s nuclear station is the country’s only one, making the outage significant for domestic electricity supply. The shutdown comes amid a broader pattern of extreme summer weather affecting several European countries.
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