health
Destroyed crops, riverbed cyclists and a ‘Rock of Starvation’: how drought has devastated the Danube
The Guardian travelled 100 miles along the EU’s longest river, where some residents are struggling to secure drinking water
TL;DR
- Record low water levels in the Danube have exposed the 'Rock of Starvation' in Budapest.
- Hungary is experiencing an unprecedented energy crisis, forcing the shutdown of most Danube-cooled nuclear reactors.
- Farmers report significant crop losses due to drought, with some anticipating up to 70% failure.
- Communities along the Danube are struggling to secure drinking water, with water tankers supplying residents.
- The exposed riverbed has revealed historical relics, including shipwrecks, a bridge, and a bomb.
- Climate change and human-caused breakdown are cited as the primary drivers of these extreme weather conditions.
- Nature reserves and public green spaces are being artificially watered to prevent them from drying out.