
Switzerland's Axpo shuts down nuclear reactor due to heat
BERLIN (REUTERS)Swiss power company Axpo shut down one of its reactor units at its Beznau plant on Tuesday due to high river water temperatures while it left a second reactor running but with reduced power, it said on Wednesday.
"Current measures will remain in place for the time being," said the company in a statement.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
7 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Greece battles wildfire for a third day as temperatures rise
Gale force wind gusts complicated efforts on Friday to contain wildfires on Crete that have razed forests and olive groves and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate. Around 130 firefighters, 48 vehicles and six helicopters were deployed on the third day of the effort, with the wind and dry conditions raising the risk that blazes might restart in areas of the island where they had already been contained. In Greece's capital Athens, about 800 people were evacuated from the suburb of Koropi where more than 120 firefighters battled a blaze supported by eight airplanes and eight helicopters, a fire brigade spokesperson said. Local residents spray water to extinguish a fire in a house during a wildfire that broke up in Koropi. AFP The fires in Crete and in Athens come as much of Europe swelters in an early summer heatwave, which officials have linked to at least eight deaths on the continent. The blazes in Crete, which broke out in a village about 16km east of Ierapetra on Wednesday, have consumed swathes of agricultural land in the southeastern corner of the island, leaving dead animals and scorched farmhouses. Olive farmer Giorgos Poulis was sorting out destroyed farming equipment beside his burned-out truck. "The damage is incalculable in every way, from water drilling equipment, pipes, tires, cars, the cement mixer," he said, gesturing around him. A man attempts to extinguish a wildfire in the Cesme district of Izmir, Turkey. AFP George Tzarakis, head of Hoteliers of Ierapetra and southeastern Crete, told Reuters most of the 3,500 tourists who had been evacuated were returning to their hotels. Tourism is a key earner in Crete, the largest island in Greece, and local hoteliers were concerned about future bookings as the fire hit at the start of the peak summer holiday season. Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 38˚C on Friday, the Greek weather service said. Passengers rest on the floor in the hall of the Main Railway Station, as a major power outage caused train delays, in Prague. Reuters In another Athens suburb, Pikermi, some 148 firefighters battled a fire that broke out on Thursday, threatening many homes, cutting power and prompting authorities to move more than 300 people to safety. The fire was contained but not extinguished, the fire brigade official said. In Italy, the health ministry put 20 of the 27 cities it monitors for heatwaves on red alert on Friday. RAI public broadcaster said temperatures would go as high as 38 C in Florence and 37 C in Rome, Bologna and Perugia. 341 DEATHS DUE TO HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES Spain's Health Ministry estimates that 341 deaths have been attributable to heat-related illnesses since the beginning of June, as the country grapples with soaring temperatures. With the heat comes a higher risk of wildfires. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach. "With multiple heatwaves and fire risks expected through September, there is an urgent need to shift from reactive response to proactive preparedness," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said this week. Reuters


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
New fire threatens homes in Greece as Europe bakes in heatwave
Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced over 1,000 to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38°C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures. Gale-force winds and aridity made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. An airplane drops water on a wildfire that broke up in Pikermi, east of Athens. AFP A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. Flames rise next to houses as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, Greece. Reuters In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that 'rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts,' fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. A firefighting airplane drops water as a wildfire burns in Rafina, east of Athens. AP More than 1,000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. 'It was very scary,' said 26-year old Danish tourist Mikkel Sallin, who was evacuated to another hotel. 'We are just glad to stay here right now and feel safe.' Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5,000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told reporters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Firefighters gather on a field near the area where an airplane drops water over a wildfire that broke up in Pikermi. AFP Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub 'a wildfire hotspot' - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10°C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Separately, the Western Balkans faces a severe drought after a heat wave hit the region, disrupting daily life and creating issues with agriculture and power. Temperatures on Thursday in central Albania reached 40°C and meteorologists warned that there would be scarce rain until September. Rivers are almost dry because of a lack of rainfall during winter and spring. The soaring temperatures have pushed Albanian authorities to assist local agriculture with irrigation networks. Agencies

Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Heatwave across Europe leaves 8 dead as temperatures hit records
Four people died in Spain, two in France and two in Italy as an early summer heatwave continued to grip much of Europe on Wednesday, triggering health alerts and forest fires and forcing the closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant. Spanish officials said a wildfire in Catalonia had killed two people a day earlier, and authorities reported heatwave-linked deaths also in Extremadura and Cordoba. France's energy minister reported two deaths linked to the heat, with 300 others taken to hospital. Italy issued red alerts for 18 cities, while in Germany temperatures were forecast to peak at 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, making it the hottest day of the year. Two men over the age of 60 died in separate incidents on the beach in Sardinia from the heat, ANSA news agency reported. Weather forecaster Meteo France said red alerts remained for several areas of central France. The risks were greatest for vulnerable members of the population, and Catherine Vautrin, France's health and families minister, said authorities should remain vigilant. "In the coming days, we'll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I'm thinking particularly of the elderly," she said. Turkey, which battled blazes on several fronts forcing the temporary evacuation of about 50,000 people earlier in the week, said its fires were largely contained. Tuesday's fire in the Catalonia region of Spain destroyed several farms and affected an area stretching about 40 km before being contained, officials said. Italy, France and Germany warned of the risk of heavy storms due to excessive warming in unstable atmospheres. Violent storms in the French Alps late on Monday triggered mudslides, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. Swiss utility Axpo shut down one reactor unit at the Beznau nuclear power plant and halved output at another on Tuesday because of the high temperature of river water. Water is used for cooling and other purposes at nuclear power plants, and restrictions were expected to continue as temperatures are monitored. The extreme heat would likely impact the region's economic growth, which was expected to slow by half a percentage point in 2025, Allianz Research said in a report, likening the financial toll of one day with temperatures exceeding 32°C to half a day of strikes. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10°C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. 'TESTING OUR RESILIENCE' Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, they say, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. "Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. "Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year." Allianz Research's warning of a dent in economic activity due to the heat rang true for some businesses. British baker Greggs warned on Wednesday its annual profit could dip below last year's levels as the unusually hot UK temperatures discourage customers from eating out. In Germany, people flocked to open air swimming pools and lakes to cool off, with many schools across the country closed. The fire brigade was tackling several forest fires in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony. The upper floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was shut to visitors on Tuesday, while the iconic Atomium in Brussels, an atom-like structure made of stainless steel, closed early on Wednesday as a precaution, its third early closure this week. Spain experienced its hottest June on record this year, and France had its hottest June since 2003. Reuters