Lead
Riverbeds reduced to tiny streams, asphalt melting, and dried-up fields—these are the images of a drought that has settled over Central and Southeastern Europe. Record-breaking lack of rainfall in recent months and this summer's heatwaves have caused severe damage to the region's economy and infrastructure, according to Deutsche Welle. The drought has triggered an unprecedented crisis in electricity generation in several countries, forcing companies to halt production due to the historically low water level of the Danube.
Coverage Comparison
Deutsche Welle's reporting focuses on the energy crisis, highlighting Hungary and Romania as the most affected countries. The outlet provides a country-by-country breakdown, noting that Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Bulgaria also suffer from low water levels, though less severely. The coverage emphasizes the role of nuclear power plants, which rely on river water for cooling, and the varying energy mixes that determine each country's vulnerability.
Key Claims
The Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary, south of Budapest, has had to largely shut down operations because there is no longer sufficient cooling water and the Danube's temperature is too high. It is currently operating at around 12% of its capacity, and if water levels continue to drop, the plant will have to be shut down completely. Romania's Cernavoda nuclear power plant has also been taken offline due to low water levels in the Danube.
The drought has significantly affected agriculture, with harvests in Southeastern Europe, especially maize and sunflower crops, expected to be well below average. Heatwaves are repeatedly disrupting road, rail, and especially shipping transport. The Hungarian government has urged large energy consumers to conserve electricity, and several car manufacturers have scaled back production, according to the report.
Bulgaria's large-scale battery storage facilities are helping to balance supply shortages and peak demand, reducing the country's reliance on expensive imports. Austria and Slovakia are less severely affected due to their more diversified energy mixes and use of storage and pumped-storage plants. Serbia's energy mix is ill-suited to prolonged dry periods, with around 65% of its electricity generated by coal-fired power plants and 25% from hydropower.
Deutsche Welle notes that in Hungary, temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius in Budapest on Wednesday, exceeding 40 degrees in many places. For months, there has been little or no rainfall in large parts of the country, contributing to what the outlet describes as the most severe energy crisis in decades.