Key facts
- The Danube River has reached record-low water levels due to prolonged drought and heat waves in Central Europe.
- In Budapest, the water level dropped to 23 centimeters, surpassing the previous record low set in 2018.
- Tourism and industry are significantly disrupted, with cruise ships docking far from destinations and cargo traffic largely halted.
- Nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary have shut down reactors due to insufficient cooling water.
- The exposed riverbed has revealed historical items, including a World War II bomb.
Record low water levels on the Danube River, one of Europe's major waterways, are causing significant disruptions to tourism and industry across Central Europe. Prolonged drought and successive heat waves have led to unprecedented receding waters, exposing parts of the riverbed not seen in decades.
In Budapest, Hungary, the Danube's water level fell to 23 centimeters (9 inches) on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of 33 centimeters (13 inches) set in 2018. Forecasters predict further declines as temperatures are expected to exceed 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) with no significant rainfall anticipated.
The low water levels have severely impacted river traffic. Cruise ships are forced to dock far from tourist destinations, and cargo transport has nearly come to a halt. In Bulgaria, 186 tourists were evacuated from a grounded cruise ship near Vidin after it ran aground due to shallow waters. Similarly, in Serbia, hundreds of small boats and dozens of cargo ships are stranded near Novi Sad.
Beyond transportation, the drought is affecting energy production. Nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary, which rely on Danube water for cooling, have been forced to shut down or reduce reactor output. Romania's Cernavoda plant shut down a reactor unit, and Hungary's Paks plant began powering down a reactor due to restricted cooling-water supplies.
The exposed riverbed has also revealed historical remnants. In Budapest, a World War II bomb was uncovered near Margaret Bridge, leading to its closure. Others, like treasure hunter Zsolt Horváth, are using the conditions to search for metal objects in the dried riverbanks.