Central Europe is experiencing severe drought conditions that have driven the Danube River to historic water levels not seen before. In Budapest, authorities recorded the river at 23 centimeters on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record low of 33 centimeters set in 2018. The decline has exposed riverbed features typically submerged, including rocks, sand bars, and remnants of shipwrecks from earlier periods. Meteorological data indicates precipitation across Hungary has fallen 80 to 130 millimeters below historical averages over the past 90 days, while temperatures are expected to exceed 38 degrees Celsius in the coming days with minimal precipitation forecast.
The low water levels are creating significant logistical challenges for transportation and tourism industries. Cruise ships that normally operate from Budapest are being forced to dock farther upriver, restricting access to popular passenger disembarkation points. Cargo vessel operations have largely ceased due to navigation constraints. In Bulgaria, authorities evacuated 186 tourists from the Viking Ullur cruise ship after it ran aground near Vidin, with the vessel unable to reach port for supplies. In Serbia, hundreds of smaller watercraft and dozens of cargo ships have become stranded along the riverbank near Novi Sad, with boat operators reporting the water has receded 15 to 20 meters from normal shorelines.
Energy production has also been affected by the drought conditions. Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear power plant shut down one reactor unit on Tuesday due to inadequate cooling-water availability, with additional shutdowns announced. Hungary’s Paks nuclear facility, which generates approximately half the country’s electricity, began reducing output from one reactor on Wednesday following successive power reductions in other units. The facility relies on Danube water for reactor cooling systems.
The receding waters have created additional hazards, prompting authorities in Budapest to close the Margaret Bridge after a World War II-era bomb was exposed by the low water levels. However, some have found opportunities in the exposed riverbed, with metal detectorists recovering historical artifacts including military equipment and household items from earlier decades.
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