🚨 HUNGARY SHUTS DOWN PAKS NUCLEAR PLANT AS DANUBE HITS RECORD LOWS. Hungary has fully powered down the Paks nuclear plant for the first time in its 44‑year history after the Danube River fell to record‑low levels. The river’s drop cut off the cooling water the plant needs to operate, forcing a shutdown that removes nearly half of the country’s electricity supply. Prime Minister Péter Magyar said output had already plunged to 240 megawatts, far below the usual 2,000, before the final reactors went offline. The shutdown comes during a severe regional drought and repeated heatwaves that have pushed river gauges to unprecedented lows. Water restrictions are now in place across more than 100 towns and villages. Officials warn the plant could remain idle for weeks as no significant rainfall is expected. The outage adds pressure to Hungary’s energy system and economy. Large companies have been asked to cut consumption during peak hours, and neighboring Slovakia has offered support. The Danube’s decline mirrors a wider European trend, with major rivers shrinking under extreme heat linked to human‑driven climate change. The situation highlights how vulnerable critical infrastructure has become as temperatures rise and water supplies tighten.