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The Danube River's water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging
PBS • • world
Key Points:
- Water levels on the Danube River have dropped to record lows due to drought, revealing the rusted hulks of dozens of World War II German battleships near Prahovo, Serbia.
- These ships were deliberately sunk by Nazi Germany in 1944 to slow the Soviet advance and remain partly laden with weapons, posing ongoing hazards.
- The low water levels are disrupting river traffic and threatening power plant operations, prompting Central and Eastern European governments to implement electricity conservation measures.
- The drought and heatwave affecting the Danube region are linked to global warming, exacerbating environmental and infrastructural challenges across multiple countries.
- Efforts to remove the wartime shipwrecks have been ongoing but complicated by the explosives they contain, with EU-supported initiatives continuing to address the issue.
