Europe heat wave fuels drought, fires and energy fears

Core Impact Points

• Europe's heat wave has led to record-low water levels on the Danube River, disrupting nuclear power operations and highlighting the continent's worsening climate crisis.
• Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant came close to a forced shutdown due to low water levels, while Romania conducted a controlled explosion to redirect cooling water to its sole operational nuclear plant.
• The heat wave has also exposed World War II relics in Serbia, including dozens of Nazi-era German warships scuttled during the 1944 retreat.
• Wildfires have been particularly destructive in Greece, with firefighters battling a large fire in the region of Western Attica.
• The heat wave has raised concerns about energy supplies, with some nuclear power plants facing cooling risks due to low water levels.
• The drought has also affected shipping, with a cruise ship in Bulgaria forced to evacuate almost 200 tourists after it went aground near the port city of Vidin.