The prolonged drought gripping Central Europe, combined with successive heatwaves, has reduced water levels along large sections of Europe’s second-longest river to historic lows. In Budapest, the Danube recently fell to just 23 centimeters (9 inches), well below the previous record of 33 centimeters set in 2018.
The Danube, which flows through or borders 10 countries from Germany to the Black Sea, is one of Europe’s busiest inland waterways. They are no precise data of cruise passengers on the river. But, according to various data, the Danube should welcome some 600,000 international river cruise passengers annually, turning into the busiest river for tourism circuits next to the Rhine.
For cruise operators, the exceptionally shallow river has created significant operational challenges. Ships have been forced to dock away from their scheduled ports, passengers have been transferred by coach between vessels, and some itineraries have been modified or shortened because ships cannot safely navigate certain sections of the river.
Series of recent incidents
The difficult conditions have contributed to several high-profile incidents in recent days.
The most serious occurred on July 28, when Viking Ullur, carrying 186 passengers and 52 crew, ran aground about 25 kilometers upstream from Vidin, Bulgaria. Authorities said extremely low water levels and reduced nighttime visibility caused the Swiss-flagged vessel to leave the navigation channel and become stranded.
Bulgarian emergency services evacuated all passengers by small boats after the ship was unable to reach the port of Vidin for scheduled supplies and began running short of drinking water. Another cruise ship dispatched to collect the passengers could not approach because of the shallow river.
Just days earlier, on July 24, the Anna Katharina struck the Freudenau lock gate in Vienna while entering the lock. Fourteen passengers suffered minor injuries and the vessel’s bow was heavily damaged. Austrian authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision, which was not directly linked to the low-water conditions.
The Viking grounding followed weeks of navigation problems across Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary as cruise lines introduced ship swaps and coach transfers to maintain itineraries despite rapidly changing river conditions.
Tourism and shipping affected
The tourism industry is not the only sector under pressure. Low water levels have forced cargo barges to operate with sharply reduced loads or suspend operations altogether, disrupting fuel deliveries, agricultural exports and other freight movements. Ferry services have also been interrupted in parts of Romania and Bulgaria.
Across Serbia and Croatia, vast sandbanks have emerged as the river receded, leaving marinas nearly dry and exposing long-submerged shipwrecks. In Budapest, the retreating river also revealed unexploded World War II ordnance, prompting temporary safety measures around parts of the riverfront.
Meteorologists say the crisis is the result of months of below-average rainfall coupled with repeated heatwaves that have accelerated evaporation throughout the Danube basin. Although isolated rainfall is forecast, hydrologists say the river will require sustained precipitation across much of Central Europe before navigation conditions return to normal. Until then, Danube cruise operators are expected to continue adjusting itineraries throughout the remainder of the summer season.
