Romania blasts rock to divert Danube water to nuclear reactor amid drought

Romanian naval forces conducted a controlled explosion to divert water from the drought-stricken Danube River to the country's sole operational nuclear reactor. This drastic measure aims to ensure sufficient cooling water amid record-low river levels that have already forced shutdowns at nuclear plants in both Romania and neighboring Hungary.

The crisis has led to a nationwide state of emergency in Romania throughout August, declared due to a significant decline in electricity production. The Cernavodǎ nuclear plant, crucial for the country's energy supply, has been particularly affected by the critically low water levels of the Danube.

Both Romania and Hungary have experienced unprecedented situations, being forced to shut down nuclear reactors cooled by the Danube for the first time. This situation intensifies fears of a widespread energy crisis gripping the region. Hungary has indicated it might extend the operational capacity of its own atomic plant by a mere two days, highlighting the severity of the water shortage.