The Danube River, the second longest in Europe, has dropped to record low water levels due to drought, exposing the hulks of dozens of German warships from World War II. This is a curious distraction from the summer heat crisis. The low water levels have also pushed power plants to the brink of shutdown, prompting governments across Central and Eastern Europe to take measures to conserve electricity, as reported by infohub.kz.
In the middle of the river separating Serbia and Romania, near the Serbian port of Prahovo, a rusty hull with a broken mast, where the Nazi flag once flew, is now visible. Some of the ships, still laden with weapons, belonged to Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet. The Germans deliberately sank them as they retreated from Romania and as Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe near the end of the war.
Historians say that up to 200 German warships were scuttled in September 1944 near Prahovo in the Danube gorge under Soviet fire. The deliberate sinking was intended to slow down the Soviet advance in the Balkans. However, Nazi Germany surrendered months later, in May 1945.
The sight of the old warships is a reminder that the Serbian government, with financial support from the European Union, has long been trying to deal with them. Some were removed from the river by Communist Yugoslav authorities, but most remain because of the explosives they carry.
Now, authorities are trying to keep traffic flowing on the Danube, which flows through 10 nations, as the dropping water levels create dangerous conditions. Experts have linked the unusually hot weather to global warming and other factors.
Krsta Brandic, a Prahovo resident, said the low water levels have almost stopped ship traffic: "As you can see, the (big) ships can't pass anymore."