Record summer heat and low river levels disrupt energy and transport in Central Europe

Record-breaking temperatures across Western and Central Europe in June and July have driven global ocean surface temperatures to a peak of 20.96°C, while air temperatures reached 1.47°C above pre-industrial averages. The extreme drought has caused Danube River water levels to plunge, severely disrupting regional energy generation and freight shipping.

In Romania and Hungary, operators were forced to shut down or curtail output at nuclear facilities due to a lack of adequate cooling water. Romania's navy even conducted controlled underwater detonations along the Danube to clear riverbed obstacles and improve water flow. The receding waters have also exposed historical artifacts, including World War II military equipment and ancient mammoth bones.

Financial analysts estimate that shipping bottlenecks and reduced power output 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)