Share to ClassroomLow Danube Shuts Hungary's Nuclear Plant
Hungary must close its only nuclear power plant for the first time ever. The River Danube is at its lowest level for 30 years. The plant at Paks uses river water to cool its reactors, but the water is now too low for the pipes to reach it. Romania has the same problem and has already closed one of its two reactors.
The river is low because there was very little rain this spring, and then Europe had several heatwaves. Europe is getting hotter about twice as fast as the rest of the world. A Serbian scientist said the Danube had not been this low for 50 to 60 years. He does not expect the water to rise again before the middle of September.
Hungary's leader said the country's electricity supply could become difficult from Monday. He asked people to use less power in the evening, and not to charge electric cars or use air conditioning at that time. Boats have stopped moving in Bulgaria, and police took 186 people off a cruise ship that got stuck near the town of Vidin. The low water has also uncovered old things, including a warship from the Second World War in Serbia.
