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Europe heat wave fuels drought, fires and energy fears
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Low water levels in the Danube River are threatening nuclear power operations in Hungary and Romania, with Hungary narrowly avoiding a shutdown of its only nuclear plant and Romania conducting controlled explosions to redirect cooling water.
- The drought has exposed historical World War II relics in Serbia, including Nazi-era German warships, highlighting the severity of the river's retreat.
- Intense heat and dry conditions have fueled destructive wildfires in Greece and France, with ongoing firefighting efforts and tragic fatalities among fire crews in Greece.
- The heatwave has prompted health warnings across Europe, with Italy issuing red alerts for 25 cities and the UK issuing heat health alerts for multiple regions to protect vulnerable populations.
- Wildfires in France have also led to the discovery of suspected unexploded World War II munitions, prompting bomb disposal interventions in affected areas.
