Hungary's only nuclear power plant has ceased operations due to record low water levels in the Danube River, a critical source for its cooling systems. The MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant, located on the banks of the Danube, was forced to shut down as the river's flow diminished significantly amid a prolonged period of heat and low rainfall across Central Europe.
Romania's National Institute of Hydrology reported that the river's flow rate where it enters the country has fallen to 1,600 cubic meters per second, less than a third of the average for July. The institute forecasts the level will continue to drop to 1,500 cubic meters per second. The Danube, which spans 2,857 kilometers (1,775 miles) through 19 countries, has seen its water levels fall to historic lows in several sections.
This environmental crisis is impacting multiple nations along the river's course. Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia are also experiencing the effects of sustained heatwaves and minimal rainfall, exacerbating the drought conditions. The low water levels have led to the emergence of previously submerged objects. In Croatia, the remnants of a sunken Hungarian cargo ship have resurfaced, while in Serbia, the hulls of a German river flotilla from World War II have become visible.
Beyond historical artifacts, the receding waters have revealed unexpected natural finds. In Bulgaria, a resident of the city of Ruse discovered what experts identified as mammoth remains on the Danube riverbed, including a lower jaw, two tusks, and possibly a rib bone. The low water levels have also exposed vast sandbanks, with cattle seen grazing on the newly formed dunes near Calarasi, Romania.
The Upper Danube flows from Germany to Bratislava, Slovakia. The middle section extends from Bratislava to the Serbian-Romanian border, and the Lower Danube traverses Romania and Bulgaria before flowing into the Black Sea. The current drought conditions highlight the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants, to climate-related water scarcity.