Drought in Europe triggers energy crisis and reveals ancient history

Persistent drought and extreme heatwaves across Europe have driven the Danube and Rhine rivers to record-low water levels. In Bulgaria, the receding Danube has exposed the foundations of the ancient Bridge of Constantine, providing archaeologists like Pavel Popov from the Pleven Regional Historical Museum a rare opportunity to study the Roman structure. Meanwhile, the crisis has severely impacted critical infrastructure and industry.

In Romania, the military performed controlled explosions on Tuesday to redirect water toward the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, which generates 20% of the country’s electricity. One reactor was shut down on July 28 due to low cooling water levels, and the second remains under threat. Consequently, automakers Ford and Dacia have suspended production for two weeks at the government's request to manage power consumption. Similar concerns are arising in Hungary, where Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned that the Paks nuclear station may face closure as water levels are expected to drop further by the end of the week. Governments across the region are now preparing for potential mandatory energy restrictions if voluntary savings fail to stabilize the power grid.