{"id":2149,"date":"2026-07-30T05:07:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T05:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2149"},"modified":"2026-07-30T05:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T05:07:08","slug":"record-low-danube-river-affects-tourism-and-industry-as-drought-and-heat-grip-central-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2149","title":{"rendered":"Record-low Danube River affects tourism and industry as drought and heat grip Central Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) \u2014 As wildfires rage in France and Spain<\/span> and a renewed heat wave is bearing down on Western Europe, a prolonged drought half a continent away is setting record low water levels on one of Europe\u2019s largest rivers, disrupting tourism and industry and confronting residents with the realities of climate change<\/span>. <\/p>\n

Read more Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23<\/a><\/p>\n

The Danube River, which runs through 10 countries from southwestern Germany to the Black Sea, has receded to never-before-seen lows along much of its course, exposing rocks, sand bars and old shipwrecks that have rarely been seen before. <\/p>\n

In Budapest, Hungary\u2019s capital, the national water authority measured the Danube\u2019s water level at 23 centimeters (9 inches) on Wednesday morning, well below the previous all-time low of 33 centimeters (13 inches) set in 2018. <\/p>\n

The river is expected to further ebb in the coming days with no significant rain in the forecast and temperatures expected to rise to over 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) across the region.<\/p>\n

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Drought upends boat traffic<\/h2>\n

As Danube levels sank to a new low on Tuesday, photographer G\u00e1bor Kert\u00e9sz went to the base of Budapest\u2019s Margaret Bridge \u2014 typically underwater but now an exposed shoal \u2014 to document the sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bare rocks, the dry sand bars around the bridge pillars … it\u2019s all shocking to see how things were before and how they are now,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere will this lead, what will happen? We don\u2019t know that yet, but this must be the result of climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Much of Central Europe has been under a prolonged drought<\/span> for most of the year, and successive heat waves have accelerated evaporation and caused waterways to dry out. <\/p>\n

According to the Hungarian Meteorological Service, 90-day precipitation totals are between 80-130 millimeters (3.1-5.1 inches) lower across nearly the entire country compared to multi-year averages. <\/p>\n

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The low water level has forced popular cruise ships, where passengers usually disembark for sightseeing in Budapest, to dock far upriver, while cargo ships have stopped operating nearly entirely, according to Hungary\u2019s Ministry of Transport and Investment. <\/p>\n

In Bulgaria<\/span>, where the Danube forms a border with Romania<\/span>, police on Tuesday evacuated 186 tourists from a cruise ship that had run aground near the port city of Vidin.<\/p>\n

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Passengers of the Viking Ullur ran out of food and water after the vessel, which had been scheduled to take on supplies in Vidin, was unable to reach the port after running into a shallow shoal, according to Bulgaria\u2019s state news agency BTA. The ship\u2019s 52 crew members could have to remain onboard for an extended period depending on navigation conditions and refloating options, police said. <\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Once\u2019 Oscar winner and Irish musician Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle crash<\/a><\/p>\n

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