Forest fire near UK nuclear facility worries authorities - Nuclear plant in Hungary closes due to to water shortage
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SUFFOLK, UK — A wildfire burning across Dunwich Heath in Suffolk is being closely monitored by authorities, though the blaze currently poses a low risk to nearby nuclear facilities, according to Sky News.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is following the situation “closely” and pledged full support to local emergency services. “It is a serious incident. I will ensure the fire and rescue service in the area has all the resources it needs,” he told reporters.
A spokesperson for Sizewell C, the new nuclear power station under construction adjacent to the existing Sizewell B plant, said operations at the site and its offices continue as normal. “We are continuously assessing the impact of smoke and any effects on the road network to ensure our staff remain safe and that emergency services have priority access,” the spokesperson said.
The wildfire is reported to be just over six kilometres from one of the nuclear facilities currently in operation. Fire crews remain on scene as assessments continue.
Hungary Shuts Down Paks Nuclear Plant as Danube River Falls to Record Lows
BUDAPEST — Hungary has shut down its Paks Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s only operating nuclear facility, after water levels in the Danube River dropped below the minimum required for safe reactor cooling. Authorities say the river reached –134 cm, triggering an automatic shutdown under national safety regulations.
The closure marks the first full shutdown in the plant’s 44‑year history. Output had already been reduced to around 10% of normal capacity as water levels continued to fall during Europe’s ongoing heatwave and drought.
The Paks plant typically supplies nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, raising concerns about grid stability and energy imports as the country navigates extreme weather conditions. Officials said the shutdown was necessary to maintain reactor safety and that operations will resume only when river levels rise sufficiently.
The Danube’s historically low water levels have affected other regional infrastructure, including cooling systems for Romania’s Cernavodă nuclear plant, which has also reduced output.
Meteorologists warn that prolonged heat and drought across Central Europe may continue to strain water‑dependent energy systems in the coming weeks.