Record heat waves and droughts sweeping Europe are shaking not only the heat issue but also power, logistics, and agriculture at the same time. As temperatures top 40 degrees and rivers dry up, nuclear power plants are cutting output and cargo ships are stopping operations or reducing loads.
According to Reuters on the 5th (local time), the temperature in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Austria, rose to 41.2 degrees, setting a record high. It surpassed the previous record high of 41.0 degrees measured near Vienna the day before in just one day.
The heat wave, which had recently focused on France and Spain, is moving to Central and Southeastern Europe. In some parts of Italy, temperatures have climbed to around 40 degrees, prompting red heat alerts in major cities. The Vatican also moved the location of Pope Leo's first general audience after the summer break from St. Peter's Square to indoors.
As the heat wave drags on, the first places hit are power facilities that use river water. Nuclear plants need large amounts of water to cool the heat generated during operation. But when drought lowers river levels and raises water temperatures, there is not enough water for cooling.
Hungary's only nuclear power plant, which uses Danube River water, has already mostly halted operations. As power supply capacity neared its limit, the Hungarian government asked corporations and households to cut electricity use.
The Krško nuclear power plant, Slovenia's only nuclear plant, also decided to reduce output to 80% of total capacity due to lower water levels and high temperatures in the Sava River. The plant supplies electricity not only to Slovenia but also to neighboring Croatia.
Falling river levels are also affecting logistics. On Germany's Rhine River, some cargo transport has been halted, and ships that continue to operate have sharply reduced cargo loads. The Rhine is a key transport route in Europe for grain, ore, and gasoline.
Concerns are growing over shortages of power and water. As temperatures were expected to reach 38 degrees, Moldova asked residents to cut evening electricity use and conserve water.
Maya Sandu, the president of Moldova, said, "Watering a vegetable garden and watering a lawn are completely different things," and added, "If water does not come out in the capital, Chișinău, for several days, it will be a real catastrophe."
Hot, dry weather is also increasing wildfires and crop damage. In southern Albania, wildfires spread and about 15 households evacuated with their livestock and pets. Northwest of Athens, Greece, thousands of hectares of farmland have burned in wildfires, and Britain's grain harvest this year is expected to be the smallest since record-keeping began in 1984.