Record-low water levels on the Danube have caused an unprecedented energy crisis in Hungary, leading to the shutdown of all but one of its Danube-cooled nuclear reactors. This marks the first time such a shutdown has occurred in 44 years.
The river in Budapest fell to a record low of just 14-19 cm on 4 August. This dramatic drop has revealed historical relics, including a woolly mammoth, a bridge destroyed after the second world war, a Nazi warship, and an unexploded British bomb.
The drought has also resulted in significant economic damage, with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar warning that losses are expected to surpass those of the 2022 dry spell. Farmers, such as István Somogyi from Pócsmegyer, report losing nearly 50% of their harvest, potentially rising to 70%.
Furthermore, some Hungarian towns are struggling with drinking water shortages. In Szentendre, the deputy mayor, József Gulyás, stated that 4,000 to 5,000 households were left without water, necessitating the distribution of 25 tonnes of water and handling approximately 100 emergency calls daily.