The Danube River has plunged to unprecedented low levels, causing shipping disruptions in Serbia and raising fears over fuel imports and energy production. Authorities have issued warnings of a new heatwave, with temperatures soaring to around 40°C.
Record Low Water Levels and Their Consequences
We are now seeing historic lows. This is a very unfavorable hydrological situation, and it is, indeed, a very serious one.
Dejan Vladikovic, Hydrologist
- Shipping halted in parts of Serbia
- Hydropower generation down to a third of normal output
- Increased risk of wildfires in the region
Along the Serbian stretch of the Danube, the lack of rainfall has resulted in exposed sandbanks, with some areas shallow enough for pedestrians to cross. In Novi Sad, local citizens like 69-year-old Dragoljub Selakovic express disbelief at the river's condition.
The summer heat has also unveiled makeshift beaches where locals attempt to escape the sweltering temperatures. However, the absence of tourists and river cruises has severely impacted local businesses.
Jovana Radakovic, a river dock manager in Novi Sad, reported a decline in business, stating, "A large number of passenger ships are cancelling their calls because they are unable to reach Novi Sad."
At Bezdan, where the Danube enters Serbia, officials confirmed the river's lowest levels in over 50 years. This situation threatens not only agriculture and hydropower but also local ecosystems.
Serbia's largest hydropower plant is operating at one-third capacity, and oil imports have dropped significantly, with only 25% of planned deliveries completed in July.
Water authorities in the northern province of Vojvodina are already implementing irrigation restrictions and issuing fines for excessive water use as they anticipate ongoing drought conditions throughout August.
Experts attribute the severe drought to climate change, which has intensified rainfall deficits this spring, further exacerbating the situation for farmers and local communities.