A severe drought across Europe has caused the River Danube to reach record low levels, forcing Hungary to significantly reduce operations at its sole nuclear power plant, the Paks facility. The plant, which generates approximately half of Hungary's electricity, was operating at just over 10% capacity as the Danube's waters, crucial for cooling its Soviet-era reactors, became insufficient for full operation.
The Paks plant operator deemed the shutdown unavoidable as water levels dropped below the suction nozzles needed for cooling. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that the plant would not be generating power during the upcoming five days, coinciding with a forecast of 40-degree Celsius temperatures. The plant typically accounts for around 40% of Hungary's annual electricity generation.
This situation is unfolding against a backdrop of prolonged heat and drought impacting large parts of Europe, leading to critically low river levels. These low levels are causing concerns for water supplies, river transport, and power generation. The extreme heat has also intensified wildfires across the continent, with Greece notably battling significant blazes.
Authorities in Greece deployed water-dropping planes and helicopters to combat a major wildfire west of Athens. The efforts were complicated by a midair collision between two firefighting helicopters that resulted in the deaths of two crew members, one Greek and one Danish national. According to the European Commission, wildfires have already burned nearly half a million hectares across the European Union this year, with over 1,400 fires detected, releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Prime Minister Magyar warned that the Paks nuclear plant could remain offline for weeks, placing considerable strain on the power grid and public services. He noted that voluntary power usage reductions from households and over 300 companies had helped ease some pressure on the grid, but mandatory restrictions could be imposed if necessary. Companies including Hungarian energy group MOL, Samsung SDI, Audi, and Denso are among those voluntarily curbing their power demand.
The low water levels in the Danube have also disrupted shipping and tourism in Hungary, leading to water-use restrictions in over 100 cities and villages. The economic impact for Hungary could range from 100 billion to 200 billion forints due to the rising cost of imported electricity.
Amidst the drought, historically low water levels have revealed submerged objects in the Danube, including a sunken Nazi ship near Prahovo, Serbia, believed to have been scuttled by the German navy in the final days of World War II. An estimated 200 such vessels lie on the Danube's bed, posing a potential hazard to navigation.
In Greece, the wildfires near Athens forced further evacuations, while authorities investigated the cause of a fire that reportedly began from sparks emitted by a faulty power line connected to a wind generator facility. Two individuals, an electrical engineer and a contractor, were arrested on suspicion of arson.
Elsewhere, France has experienced its largest wildfire, displacing 224,000 people. Combined, fires in France and Spain have forced approximately a third of a million people from their homes and vacation sites, straining emergency services across multiple disaster zones.