Romania's Danube hits 30‑year low, forcing irrigation cuts and port closures

The Danube’s flow at Romania’s entry point fell to about 1,700 cubic metres per second on 19‑July, far below the July average of 4,700 m³/s and the lowest level recorded in the past three decades. The sharp drop has led authorities to restrict water use for irrigation in the southeast, suspend tourist services on the river, and close several ports, including the tourist harbour at Corabia and the barge line between Bechet and Oryahovo.

Navigation on the river has become difficult, with exposed riverbanks, sandbars and shallow drafts forcing the suspension of ferry routes and the grounding of grain barges. The Romanian Water Administration declared a state of force majeure for the lower Danube sector, citing the “severe impact on navigation” and the need to maintain minimum depths required by international conventions. Officials expect a modest rise in water levels in the coming days as heavy rains fall in several counties.

The low water also prompted checks on water reservoirs needed to cool the two reactors of the state‑owned nuclear plant Nuclearelectrica, underscoring the broader economic and energy implications of the drought.