STORY: A cruise ship remained stranded near Gony on Saturday (August 1) as record-low water levels on the Danube River caused widespread disruptions to shipping, tourism and power generation across the country.

Drone footage showed the vessel stuck in shallow waters as the river reached its lowest levels in decades.

In Kisoroszi, tourists and residents walked on what should have been the riverbed, with many expressing shock at the dramatic drop in water levels.

Tourist Gina Dioslaki, who has visited the area for 15 years, said she had never seen the water so low.

Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, which generates nearly half of the country's electricity, could be powered down as soon as this weekend due to record-low water levels on the Danube River.

Paks' four Russian-made reactors are operating at just a quarter of their combined 2-gigawatt capacity and were expected to be powered down completely for the first time in 44 years next week amid a further projected decline in water levels.

The energy crisis could cost Hungary 100 billion to 200 billion forints ($315 million to $630 million) due to the surging price of imported electricity, Mark Radnai, vice chairman of Magyar's Tisza party said on Facebook.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NEAR GONY, HUNGARY (AUGUST 1, 2026)(REUTERS-Access all) (MUTE)

1. VARIOUS OF DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING STRANDED CRUISE SHIP DUE TO LOW DANUBE LEVELS

KISOROSZI, HUNGARY (AUGUST 1, 2026)(REUTERS-Access all)

2. PEOPLE WALKING ON DRY SHORE

3. PEOPLE WALKING IN SHALLOW WATER

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN SHALLOW WATER

5. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON DRY SHORE

6. PEOPLE ON DRY SHORE AND IN SHALLOW WATER

7. TOURIST GINA DIOSLAKI WALKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) TOURIST, GINA DIOSLAKI, SAYING:

“Well, I've been coming to Kisoroszi for 15 years, and I've never seen it as low as this. It happened that the water was under the trees, by our feet, that was about 8 years ago. Since then we've come down here every summer weekend, and here at the peak of the island it's a record low right now, I think.”

9. DRY SHORE AND SHALLOW WATER

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) TOURIST, GINA DIOSLAKI SAYING:

“Obviously, the emissions of the factories and the high electricity and water consumption matter. We can do a lot as individuals, but I think it pales in comparison to what the governments could do, yes, politicians. And we should educate society a little better to know that this water, this nature is our value.”

11. PEOPLE WALKING IN SHALLOW WATER

12. PEOPLE BY SHALLOW WATER

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) RESIDENT, ARPAD SZEKELY, SAYING:

“A person is such a small speck of dust that they cannot influence these things (ie. climate change). You can say that they can, but their chances are so small.”

14. PEOPLE WALKING IN SHALLOW WATER

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) RESIDENT, ZOLTAN KADAR, SAYING:

“Well, this is really sad. There should be water here where we're standing. I usually go to Ujpest Bay, but you can only go there through mobile pontoons to reach the boats and canoes. Something needs to be done.”

16. WOMAN WALKING ON DRY SHORE

17. DRY SHORE