Record European heatwave and drought disrupt nuclear energy and transport

Western Europe recorded its warmest June and July on record as global ocean surface temperatures reached a high of 20.96°C. The intense heatwave and severe drought conditions have significantly reduced water levels along major European river systems, including the Danube.

In response to cooling water shortages, facilities in Hungary and Romania were forced to curtail output or temporarily shut down nuclear reactors. To improve water intake for its remaining operational reactor, the Romanian navy conducted a controlled detonation on a Danube rock bed. The falling water levels also exposed historical artifacts, such as World War II military equipment and mammoth fossils.

Analysts warn that disrupted river transport and diminished energy production could cost Central European economies up to two billion euros in the third quarter.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)