Danube's Water Level Hits Record Low Amid Drought
RastinewsExtreme heat and drought have pushed the Danube River to a record-low water level, leaving hundreds of thousands across Europe facing an electricity crisis.
In Budapest, the Hungarian capital, the river's level fell to as low as 10 centimeters earlier this week, far below the previous record low of 33 centimeters set in 2018. Forecasters see little chance of the Danube rising in the coming weeks: no significant rainfall is expected, while daytime temperatures are set to reach as high as 38 degrees Celsius.
The record-low water levels have pushed Hungary's only nuclear plant, Paks, to the brink of a full shutdown. Paks' reactors, cooled by water drawn from the Danube, generated just 240 megawatts on Monday, a fraction of their normal 2,000-megawatt output. The plant typically supplies about half of Hungary's total electricity production on its own.
Facing the crisis, Hungary's government has asked major industrial firms to cut their power consumption and urged citizens to conserve electricity voluntarily. Starting this week, the country has also imposed speed restrictions on its electric trains.
Romania's army detonates explosives in the riverbed
In Romania, the army blew up rocks in the Danube's riverbed with 180 kilograms of explosives in an effort to let more water reach the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.
An underwater blast sent a huge column of water shooting up from the Danube
One reactor at Cernavoda has already shut down due to low water levels, and officials fear the second could follow. The plant, also cooled by Danube water, supplies roughly 20 percent of Romania's electricity needs.
To head off a broader energy crisis, carmakers Dacia and Ford halted production until August 19 at the government's request.
In Serbia, record-low Danube water levels have hit the country's main hydroelectric plant, which is reportedly operating at just 20 percent of capacity.
Source: DW