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Danube River reaches record low water levels during prolonged drought
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- The Danube River, spanning 10 European countries, has reached record low water levels due to prolonged drought and heat waves, disrupting tourism, industry, and daily life along its course.
- In Budapest, the Danube's water level dropped to 23 centimeters, the lowest ever recorded, forcing cruise ships to dock upriver and halting most cargo ship operations.
- The drought has led to safety concerns, including the evacuation of tourists from a grounded cruise ship in Bulgaria and the closure of Budapest’s Margaret Bridge after a World War II bomb was exposed.
- Nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary are reducing or shutting down reactors due to insufficient cooling water from the Danube, impacting electricity production.
- While the low water levels reveal historical artifacts and shipwrecks, they also highlight the severe consequences of climate change and prolonged drought in Central Europe.
