Hungary to shut down sole nuclear power plant as Danube falls to record low

Hungary is preparing to shut down its sole nuclear power plant this week as water levels in the River Danube have reached record lows. The facility relies on the river for cooling, and current environmental conditions have rendered it unable to maintain necessary operational safety standards.

The shutdown occurs as a significant heatwave moves across central and southern Europe, with temperatures in Budapest and Vienna expected to reach 37C. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has characterized the coming five days as a critical period for the nation as it manages the impact of the extreme weather on its energy infrastructure.