Danube river contaminated by 400-meter diesel oil slick

A passenger ship captain accidentally discharged a mixture of water and diesel into the Danube, creating an oil slick approximately 400 meters long. The incident occurred when the captain attempted to drain a ballast tank to rebalance the vessel, unaware that the tank contained a fuel-water mixture.

Police estimate that between 1,000 and 5,000 liters of the mixture entered the river. The vessel involved flies the Swiss flag. Emergency services deployed oil booms to contain the spill, aided by low water levels that slowed the river's flow and prevented rapid spreading. While the environmental impact is still being assessed, authorities noted that the smell of fuel remains strong in downstream old town areas and may persist for several days. Police have launched an investigation to determine why diesel was stored in the ballast tank.