The Danube River has reached record low water levels due to an ongoing drought, causing several World War II German ships to emerge near Prahovo, Serbia. The vessels, part of Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet, were intentionally sunk in 1944 as German forces retreated from Soviet advances.
The ships had remained mostly submerged for eight decades, but the current lack of rainfall has exposed their rusted hulls and masts. Local authorities in Serbia reported that the vessels contain tons of unexploded ammunition and explosives, which officials say pose a risk to river traffic and the local environment.
The sunken fleet has narrowed the navigable channel on this section of the Danube, forcing commercial vessels to navigate a much smaller space. Some of the ships still have turrets, command bridges, and broken masts visible above the water line, with many covered in river silt and vegetation.
The scale of the disruption is significant for the regional economy, as the Danube is a primary artery for transporting grain, fertilizer, and fuel across Europe. While specific daily dollar losses were not reported, the narrowing of the channel effectively cuts the usable waterway by nearly 45%. Local fishermen and ecology experts have expressed concern that the deteriorating metal and explosives could leak chemicals into the water, potentially affecting the health of the river ecosystem and those who rely on it for their livelihoods.
What happens next: Serbian authorities have sought international assistance to begin the removal of the vessels, a process estimated to cost nearly 30 million euros ($30 million). While a timeline for the full extraction has not been finalized, the government plans to begin a phased removal of the most dangerous ships containing the highest concentrations of explosives. Navigational warnings remain in place for all river traffic in the Prahovo sector until water levels rise or the wrecks are cleared.