Romania, facing disruptions in nuclear power generation due to a severe drought, has blasted bedrock in the Danube River to secure cooling water for its nuclear plant.

According to Reuters and other foreign media outlets on the 3rd (local time), Romania blasted bedrock in the Danube River, which has recorded historic low water levels due to the drought, to divert the water flow.

As the flow of the Danube River passing through Romania dropped to about one-third of its usual level, Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant suspended the operation of one of its reactors.

Experts expect that this bedrock explosion will allow more water to be channeled toward the waterway where the Cernavoda reactors are located.

The bedrock blasting operation was carried out by the Romanian Navy.

Reuters reported, "A massive column of water shot into the sky accompanied by a loud blast," adding, "This measure illustrates Europe's crisis, where concerns over power generation are growing due to heatwaves and droughts."

The Danube River, which originates in Germany and flows to the Black Sea, has been breaking record-low water levels in various places recently due to the drought.

Meanwhile, Hungary, which had initially announced it would suspend nuclear plant operations on this day, stated that voluntary power-saving efforts by businesses and households will allow it to delay the shutdown by a day or two.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated on this day, "Thanks to households and businesses cooperating with the government's request, electricity demand dropped by 700 MW the previous day," expressing expectations that reduced-capacity operations can continue until the 4th.

Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant normally produces about 40 percent of Hungary's electricity demand, but current production has fallen to around the 10 percent level.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)