Danube and Drava rivers face record low water levels due to drought

Danube river hydrological drought water levels energy production river navigation

A severe hydrological drought is impacting the Danube and Drava rivers across Central and Southeastern Europe, leading to record-low water levels and significant regional consequences.

In Croatia, the Danube at Batina reached a new minimum between -142 and -147 centimeters, while the Drava river in Osijek hit a record low of -192 centimeters. This drought has also depleted groundwater levels and caused local wells to dry up. In Serbia, officials report the Danube is facing its lowest levels in 100 years, prompting bans on unnecessary water consumption and disrupting river navigation.

The low water levels are significantly impacting energy production and logistics. The Đerdap hydroelectric plant in Serbia is operating at only 20 percent capacity. In Hungary, the Paks nuclear plant has had to reduce production due to cooling water shortages, a situation mirrored by the Cernavodă plant in Romania.

Commercial shipping is also heavily affected. Convoys and barges are anchored or forced to carry lighter loads due to shallow depths, particularly along the Giurgiu–Ruse section of the Danube and near Mohács. The drought's impact extends to food production and irrigation, as water scarcity affects both surface and groundwater supplies.

Entities: Austria · Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant · DHMZ · Danube · Danube River · Drava · Ilok · Paks Nuclear Power Plant · Ruse · Serbia · Đerdap

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The Danube water level in Ruse, Bulgaria, dropped to -97 centimeters.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The drought in Bulgaria does not currently affect the Kozloduy nuclear power plant's operations. (Dimitar Zarčev (Bulgarian electricity system operator))
[● 3 SOURCES] The Danube water level in Batina reached a new low of -142 to -147 centimeters. (DHMZ)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Drava river level in Osijek reached a record low of -192 centimeters. (DHMZ)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Low water levels in Hungary revealed the remains of a steamship that sank in 1944 near Baja.
[● 2 SOURCES] The hydrological drought is reflected in dry riverbeds and falling groundwater levels. (DHMZ)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Low water levels are affecting electricity production at the Paks nuclear plant in Hungary and the Cernavodă plant in Romania. (DHMZ)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Dozens of barges and convoys are anchored due to low water levels on the Giurgiu–Ruse section of the Danube. (Ruse Media)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Serbia is facing the lowest Danube water levels in 100 years. (Ivica Dačić)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Đerdap hydroelectric plant is operating at approximately 20 percent capacity due to low water levels. (Predrag Škobalj)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Water consumption in Kecskemét has decreased following public appeals. (BÁCSVÍZ Zrt.)