European heatwave drives up energy prices and shifts tourism to mountains

Severe heatwaves continue to disrupt infrastructure and daily life across Europe, pushing electricity prices in Italy to a three-and-a-half-year high. Low water levels along key waterways, including the Po and Danube rivers, have forced shutdowns and capacity reductions at power plants in Italy, France, Hungary, and Romania.

To maintain operations at the Cernavodă nuclear facility, Romanian military forces intervened along the Danube riverbed, while Hungarian authorities implemented energy restrictions on major manufacturers. High temperatures triggered red alerts across 27 Italian cities, with financial estimates projecting regional economic damages at three billion euros.

Concurrently, extreme heat has redirected domestic travel patterns. According to tourism data, Italian mountain destinations experienced a 14.4% surge in visitor arrivals as travelers sought refuge at higher altitudes.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Stampa.