How drought threatens electricity supplies in Europe

Droughts, heat and falling water levels in the Danube are hitting central and southeastern Europe hard. Hungary and Romania are experiencing an energy crisis — whereas countries like Bulgaria are better prepared.

The Rhine conveys vessels and cargo that power European industry. Record low water levels are disrupting supply chains, adding costs and presenting fresh risks to growth.

With the Danube River at a historical low in some parts of Serbia, fuel imports arriving by river are at risk and energy production is being reduced.

Europe's heat wave exposes buried history and new threats — Nazi-era wrecks emerge from the Danube, nuclear reactors face cooling risks, and Greece battles deadly wildfires.

Germany has experienced successive heat waves with little rainfall this summer

Low water levels in the Rhine, Danube and Po have curtailed the transport of goods and reduced electricity output.