Hungary Sinks Barges to Protect Paks Nuclear Plant Cooling Systems
Hungarian authorities took emergency measures on August 17, 2026, by opening a sluice and sinking barges to maintain water levels for the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. The action was necessitated by the Danube River reaching critically low levels due to a severe drought, threatening the plant's cooling capacity. The operation was successful in stabilizing water intake for the reactors, preventing a potential shutdown or safety incident.