As the Danube Hits Record Lows, Every Centimeter of River Counts
Nuclear plants in Romania and Hungary are under threat of being shut down because there’s not enough water to cool them.
The Danube River, a vital lifeline for 10 countries, is at record low levels, causing disruptions to trade and tourism. The river's water level, which had fallen sharply, was given a much-needed boost by blasting a rock formation upstream, adding a few centimeters. This operation, aimed at raising the water level by 10 centimeters, is crucial for maintaining electricity supplies at Romania's Cernavoda nuclear power plant.
The Danube, a source of drinking water for 10 million people, supports 62.7 million tons of cargo annually and aids in cooling nuclear reactors. Hungary's prime minister and a member of parliament credited a sudden rise in water levels for preventing a potential full shutdown at the Cernavoda plant. Despite the current challenges, the Danube remains navigable, though many cargo ships are transporting reduced loads.
The situation is particularly dire in Romania, where the economy is expected to stagnate, industrial production is declining, and inflation remains high. Governments in both Romania and Hungary are urging citizens to conserve water, a challenging request given the peak growing season for crops.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- As the Danube hits record lows, every centimeter of river counts japantimes.co.jp
