{
  "id": 18926,
  "title": "Danube's record low levels force shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/30/danubes-record-low-levels-force-shutdown-of-hungarys-only-nuclear",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-30T17:55:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Science",
    "slug": "bbc-science",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0nqv05g0do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hungary's only nuclear power plant, the Paks facility, is set to shut down entirely for the first time due to record low water levels on the River Danube, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced. The Soviet-era plant relies on the Danube for cooling, but the diminished water level prevents suction nozzles from reaching it. Magyar cautioned that Hungary's energy supply could become critically strained from Monday onwards, compounded by an ongoing heatwave pushing temperatures near 37C for a week. Like much of Europe, Hungary has faced severe drought and high temperatures throughout the summer. The Danube's water levels have plummeted to the lowest in 30 years in several countries, including Serbia and Romania. Magyar suggested implementing a rotational shutdown regime if necessary, urging citizens to limit energy-intensive activities between 17:00 and 22:00. Romania's only functioning nuclear reactor at Cernavoda power plant, which generates about 20% of the nation's power, has already been shut down due to low Danube levels. If the second reactor also shuts down, Romania will temporarily lack nuclear energy production, mirroring Hungary's predicament. Climate change, which is intensifying heatwaves and reducing rainfall, exacerbates these water level issues. The Danube, flowing through 19 countries, is experiencing unprecedented low river levels, prompting unexpected discoveries like a Hungarian cargo ship's remains surfacing in Croatia. Bulgaria's Danube also witnessed a mammoth bone discovery. Low river levels have halted shipping, and border police evacuated passengers from a grounded cruise ship in Bulgaria.",
  "summary": "Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia are also grappling with the effects of a series of prolonged heatwaves and low rainfall.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}