Romania has carried out a controlled explosion in the Danube River to clear a large rock and keep water flowing to a nuclear power plant, as a heatwave strains Europe's energy systems. Naval forces detonated explosives to divert water toward the Old Danube and the Cernavodă nuclear plant, which relies on river water for cooling.
The move comes as record low water levels in Europe's major rivers have reduced electricity output and shrunk company earnings, raising fears about the economic impact of extreme heat and erratic rainfall. Governments across Central and Eastern Europe are taking steps to conserve electricity and avert an energy crisis, with the Danube's low levels forcing power plants to the brink of shutting down.