Record-low Danube in Serbia exposes sandbanks and leaves ships stranded
A severe drought has driven the Danube in northern Serbia to historic lows, exposing sandbanks, grounding boats and disrupting cargo traffic and hydropower generation.
The Danube River in northern Serbia has hit record-low water levels, drastically changing the waterway's appearance near the towns of Apatin and Bezdan. Aerial footage shows vast sandbanks emerging from the river, with boats now resting on dry sections of the riverbed. A small marina has been left completely dry, while cargo vessels remain stuck, unable to proceed along one of Europe's key shipping routes.
The prolonged drought has pushed segments of the Danube to levels never seen before, severely hampering navigation. Some of the newly exposed sandbanks have turned into makeshift beaches, where locals walk across the former riverbed and wade in the shallow water for recreation. Yet the low water creates serious headaches for the shipping industry, with some cargo ships having been immobilized for days.
Falling water levels are also cutting into Serbia's hydropower output, adding to the strain on the country's energy system. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the drought continues to affect transport, energy production, and the communities living along the Danube.
