{
  "id": 811451,
  "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant, Hungary dams dry Danube River",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-hungary-dams-dry-danube-river-811451",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T21:21:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-hungary-dams-dry-danube-river/a-78359581?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Romania has shut down its sole nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, amid a severe drought that has caused record low water levels on the Danube River, which provides the plant's cooling water. This marks the second shutdown of the plant in just over a year, both due to drought conditions. The Danube River is the only source of cooling water for the nuclear plant, which typically generates about 20% of Romania's electricity. The last shutdown occurred in June 2023 due to similar drought conditions. Meanwhile, in Hungary, efforts are underway to prevent the Paks nuclear power plant from shutting down completely. The Danube River is also crucial for cooling at Paks, which contributes roughly half of Hungary's electricity generation. Prime Minister Peter Magyar visited Paks, where construction of a low weir to raise the water level is underway. The weir, consisting of two 80-meter-long barges, is expected to raise the water level by over a meter, boosting the plant's cooling capacity. Despite these efforts, the plant remains at a fraction of its normal capacity, and Prime Minister Magyar urged the public to conserve electricity, with large industrial users facing potential evening restrictions if necessary.",
  "summary": "Romania has shut down its only nuclear plant in a rare move prompted by the lack of cooling water from the Danube River. Hungary, meanwhile, is racing to dam the Danube, trying to keep its Paks plant online.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant’s 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-begins-shutdown-of-nuclear-plants-2nd-reactor-amid-low-water",
        "published": "2026-08-13T10:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Balkan Insight",
        "title": "Romania Shuts Nuclear Reactor on Danube as Power Crisis Deepens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-reactor-on-danube-as-power-crisis-deepens",
        "published": "2026-08-13T10:41:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Falling Danube flow forces shutdown of Romania’s sole nuclear plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/falling-danube-flow-forces-shutdown-of-romanias-sole-nuclear-plant",
        "published": "2026-08-13T12:30:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RFI English",
        "title": "Romania shuts down nuclear plant due to low level of drought-hit Danube",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-down-nuclear-plant-due-to-low-level-of-drought-hit",
        "published": "2026-08-13T13:28:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Romania shuts only nuclear plant as heat causes huge drop in Danube River level",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-only-nuclear-plant-as-heat-causes-huge-drop-in-danube",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:05:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Low Danube Water Levels Force Shutdown of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/low-danube-water-levels-force-shutdown-of-romanias-cernavoda-nuclear",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:47:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant's 2nd reactor amid low water levels on Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-begins-shutdown-of-nuclear-plants-2nd-reactor-amid-low-water-788830",
        "published": "2026-08-13T16:58:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-as-danube-drops",
        "published": "2026-08-13T18:54:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant, Hungary dams dry Danube River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-hungary-dams-dry-danube-river",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:21:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-nuclear-plant-as-danube-drops-815033",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:54:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Romania shuts only nuclear plant as heat causes huge drop in Danube River level",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/romania-shuts-only-nuclear-plant-as-heat-causes-huge-drop-in-danube-810614",
        "published": "2026-08-13T21:54:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}