Hungary has shut down its sole nuclear power plant, the Paks plant, for the first time in its 44-year history. Officials reported that the facility was forced offline after record-low water levels on the Danube disrupted reactor cooling.
The shutdown comes amidst prolonged drought and extreme heat across Europe, which have triggered a broader energy crisis. With a new heatwave looming and demand surging, the country now faces a potential power crunch.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated on Sunday that the nation faces a critical five days. In response to the outage, the former governing party, Fidesz, is questioning the competence of the new government.