Key facts
- The Danube River in Budapest reached a record low of 23 centimeters due to drought.
- A potential catapult projectile, possibly dating back up to 2,000 years, was found on the riverbed.
- A World War II shipwreck was discovered near Mohács as the river receded.
- Navigation on the Danube is severely restricted, impacting commercial and passenger traffic.
- Hungary has declared a state of heightened alert for drought, with 66 out of 84 water-shortage districts exceeding critical thresholds.
Record low water levels on the Danube River in Hungary, exacerbated by a severe drought and heatwave, have led to the exposure of historical artifacts and significant disruptions to river traffic.
The water level in Budapest dropped to an unprecedented 23 centimeters this week, surpassing the previous record set in 2018. This dramatic recession of the river has revealed a variety of items, including a potential catapult projectile found near Visegrád, which experts believe could be up to 2,000 years old. The Mátyás Király Museum is set to examine the stone sphere, noting that similar projectiles were used in sieges of Visegrád Castle.
In addition to the projectile, a World War II shipwreck has emerged from the drying riverbed near Mohács. The low water levels have made navigation extremely difficult, leading to restrictions on both cargo and passenger vessels operating on the Danube.
Hungary has declared a state of heightened alert for drought, with a significant majority of water-shortage management districts exceeding critical thresholds. Forecasters predict no significant rainfall for the next two weeks, with temperatures expected to reach around 39 degrees Celsius during a peak heatwave.
Analysis from World Weather Attribution indicates that extreme heat, intensified by human-caused climate change, is a primary driver of Europe's current droughts, making such evaporative conditions significantly more likely than in the pre-industrial era.