Sunken Nazi warship uncovered in shrinking Danube River as European heatwave lingers on
The Independent • • world
Key Points:
- A sunken Nazi warship and other historic vessels have resurfaced in the Danube River due to record-low water levels caused by a severe European heatwave and drought.
- The Danube's water level in Budapest dropped to 23cm, below the previous record low of 33cm in 2018, disrupting river tourism and nearly halting cargo ship operations.
- Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant, which relies on Danube water for cooling, is expected to shut down its reactors for the first time in 44 years, while Romania has declared a state of emergency due to reduced power output.
- Both Hungary and Romania face increased electricity demand amid the heatwave and are seeking to import more energy from neighboring countries to compensate for reduced nuclear power generation.
- Governments are urging industrial consumers to reduce electricity usage as the power supply tightens, with concerns that low water levels and high demand could create a critical energy situation in the region.
