Hungary faces most critical 5 days as drought threatens nuclear plant shutdown

Hungary is entering its "most critical 5 days" as dropping water levels on the Danube River threaten the complete shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant amid an extreme heatwave, Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sunday, warning that the plant could be shut down for more than a month.



Speaking to local commercial television channel RTL, Magyar said the last remaining operating turbine at the 2,000 MW facility will likely be shut down late Sunday or on Monday.



A complete halt to power generation at Paks, which accounts for nearly half of Hungary's domestic electricity generation,would mark the first full closure in the plant's 44-year history.



Magyar explained earlier on social media that strict nuclear safety regulations mandate the shutdown because of record-low river levels needed for cooling water.



He reassured the public that nuclear safety remains fully guaranteed, with around 50 water management experts assisting plant personnel to maintain cooling operations.



The unprecedented energy crisis comes as Hungary braces for temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius or higher over these "most critical five days," placing immense strain on the national grid.