Record heatwave and drought disrupt European energy and transport networks

Western Europe has experienced its warmest combined June and July on record, accompanied by unprecedented global ocean surface temperatures of 20.96 degrees Celsius in July. The prolonged heat and severe drought have created major disruptions across the continent.

In western Germany, emergency personnel evacuated over 2,000 residents from Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia after a wildfire advanced to within 200 metres of residential areas. Concurrently, critically depleted river levels have compromised inland navigation and forced nuclear power stations in Romania and Hungary to curb output or shut down reactors. The Romanian navy carried out controlled underwater detonations on the Danube to redirect cooling water to an active plant. Analysts estimate that transport interruptions and power constraints could cost Central Europe up to two billion euros in the third quarter.

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