Hungary shuts down Paks nuclear power plant as Danube water levels hit record lows

This is what Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar wrote in a post on X.

The nuclear power plant in Paks, south of Budapest, normally provides about a third of Hungary's electricity needs. The plant's cooling water comes from the Danube, whose water levels are currently at record lows due to several recurring heat waves.

“As a result, the power plant's output will drop to just 240 megawatts, and tomorrow it will be completely shut down for the first time in 44 years,” writes Magyar.

The Hungarian weather service Hungaromet predicts that it will be over 40 degrees Celsius in the country in the coming days.