Mississippi-like Low Water Levels Threaten Danube

Low water levels in Bulgarian sections of Europe's River Danube threaten navigation safety, ship commerce.

Water levels continue to go down and threaten a full stop of any navigation, the Maritime Administration Executive Agency in Ruse warns. If this happens, it will be a repeat of last summer's conditions when huge losses were incurred by ship owners.

In the area of the city of Ruse there is a forecast for an additional decrease of 12 cm in the course of the next few days.

A sand shallow has formed at kilometer 562 close to Belene island, nearly blockading ships. Effective Saturday, ships with large loads were banned there.

Recently, a cruise ship with about 100 foreign tourists came aground near the town of Svishtov because of the low water level, and  passengers had to spend an hour stuck in the shallow water before the vessel was towed clear.