Danube river level critically low

The Danube River level is critically low, especially in the German and Hungarian sections. Due to the high temperatures and lack of rain in the recent days, the waters are also low in the Bulgarian section, where eight thresholds were formed. Two ships have been stranded.

One of the ships has been stranded for ten days in the shores of the Danube over Somovit, the other is a Ukrainian self-propelled vessel.

All captains are warned to observe the restrictions imposed on the river.

Cap. Ivan Zhekov, Director of River Inspection, Maritime Administration Executive Agency - Rousse: All participants in the transport process must observe the rules and not allow to get stuck.

The worst is the condition in riverbeds that are not dredged. One of them is in the area of the village of Popina. Currently the marking ship Wit is there, which has already marked a new waterway.

Pavlin Tsonev, Executive Director of the Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River: For now the main difficulty of shipping is in the area of Popina, on the island of Garvan, where the depths are in the range of 2.10 - 2.20 metres. But we hope our colleagues are doing the hydrographic activities after marking the new way to have better conditions for those who travel.

In spite of the low level of the river, cruise ships and lighter ships on the Bulgarian section sail but with caution.

If it does not rain, the forecast for the next few days is that the Danube's level will continue to drop and the situation on the river will be further complicated.