Hungary shuts down nuclear plant as drought and heat strain cooling water

Hungary shut down operations at a nuclear power plant after a severe drought and record summer heat reduced water levels in the river used to cool its reactors. Authorities said the shutdown was a precautionary measure to protect both plant safety and the river's ecosystem.

Nuclear power is often promoted as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, but plants depend heavily on large volumes of river or sea water for cooling. This summer's drought has left several European rivers running unusually low, complicating operations at power plants across the continent.

The shutdown adds to mounting concerns about how climate-driven heat waves and water shortages could affect Europe's energy security in the years ahead. Officials say they are monitoring water levels closely and will restart the plant once conditions allow.