Key facts
- Sunken Nazi warships have emerged from the Danube River in Serbia due to record low water levels.
- The ships were sunk in 1944 by German forces during their retreat from Soviet troops.
- This is the second time in recent years that severe drought has exposed the wrecks.
- The low water levels are impacting agriculture, fuel deliveries, and electricity production in the region.
- Serbia has begun a project to remove some of the most dangerous wrecks.
Record low water levels in the Danube River, exacerbated by prolonged heatwaves and drought, have led to the emergence of sunken Nazi warships near Prahovo, Serbia. These vessels, part of Germany's Black Sea fleet, were deliberately sunk in 1944 as German forces retreated from advancing Soviet troops, and their rusting hulls have remained submerged for decades.
The current drought conditions have pushed parts of the Danube to record low levels in Serbia and Croatia, exposing the wrecks and other historical objects, including a World War II bomb found in Budapest. This is the second time in recent years that severe drought has made these warships visible, following similar conditions in 2022.
The low water levels are not only revealing historical relics but also causing significant disruptions to regional infrastructure and economy. Agriculture is under pressure, fuel deliveries via river barges are severely restricted, and electricity production, particularly hydropower, is reduced. Serbia has initiated a project, supported by the European Union and the European Investment Bank, to remove approximately 21 of the most dangerous wrecks located in or near the navigable channel, a process that requires careful inspection by divers and explosives specialists due to the unpredictable nature of old ammunition.