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European drought: Sunken warships revealed in Danube

10:00
23 August 2022

European drought
Sunken warships revealed in Danube

Wreckage of a World War II German warship in the Danube in Prahovo, Serbia, August 18th 2022Wreckage of a World War II German warship in the Danube in Prahovo, Serbia, August 18th 2022 - © picture alliance

One of Europe's worst droughts in 500 years is causing record-low river levels, exposing warships in the Danube.

The Danube stretches a distance of over 2700km through ten countries, and has has sunk to its lowest level in nearly a century.

In some regions, it has fallen less than half its normal August depth, to around waist height for most people. As a result, it has exposed dozens of German World War II warships, near Serbia's port of Prahovo, on the border of Romania.

Many of the ships still contain explosives and ammunitions, similar to the recent finding of a World War II explosive in the River Po, posing a threat to shipping and also the fishing industry.

This comes after months of drought and record-high temperatures across the entirety of Europe. Currently, around 47% of Europe is under drought warning, with 17% in drought condition.

Weather & Radar editorial team
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