Drought on the Danube: Europe’s Second-Longest River Faces Critical Water Levels

Europe’s second-longest river, the Danube, is facing a severe crisis due to critically low water levels in Hungary. Early summer heatwaves are negatively impacting transportation, agriculture, and local ecosystems. Attila Bencsik of the Hungarian Shipping Association revealed that cargo ships on the Danube are operating at only 30-40% capacity, meaning they must leave more than half of their cargo behind.

The inability to fully load ships has led to additional fees, potentially increasing transportation costs by up to 100%. This situation is exacerbated by the ongoing heatwave across Europe, which has already claimed at least eight lives. In Budapest, Hungary’s capital, temperatures soared to 35°C this week.

While low water levels on the Danube have been observed before, such conditions typically occur later in the year, around August. However, the current drought has arrived unusually early. Meteorologists predict rain in the Danube’s catchment area next week, which could slightly raise water levels and provide some relief for shipping.

The Hungarian Meteorological Institute, HungaroMet, reported that rainfall in June was only 17% of the normal level, making it the driest June since 1901.