Hungary is facing a potential power crunch as record-low water levels in the Danube River have forced the nation's sole nuclear power plant, the Paks plant, offline. Officials stated that water levels fell below the minimum required to cool the facility's four reactors, necessitating the shutdown.
The move marks the first time in the plant's 44-year history that such a shutdown has occurred, leading the country into uncharted territory as it manages the loss of its primary nuclear energy source.
The energy crisis is intensifying, with a second of the four nuclear blocs already taken offline as the river's water levels continue to drop. This disruption is straining the country's energy supplies and posing a major test for the economy.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated on Sunday that Hungary faces a critical five days. The situation is further complicated by a looming new heatwave.