Danube low water reveals WWII bomb and century‑old shipwreck

Exceptionally low water levels in the Danube and the Tisza have exposed a number of historic items. In eastern Croatia near Kiskőszeg (Batina) a World War II aerial bomb weighing about 100 kg, with roughly 50 kg of explosives, was uncovered and safely detonated by police. Further downstream at Apatin, a shipwreck that has rested on the river bed since 1937 became visible; locals say the vessel once carried coal.

In Hungary, the drop in the Tisza at Szolnok exposed the stone piles of a 16th‑century Ottoman wooden bridge that was the country’s first permanent crossing of the river. The bridge played a key role in trade between western and southern Europe until it was burned by the Turks in 1685. Meanwhile, in Százhalombatta, the exposed riverbed revealed numerous World War II munitions, including grenades and anti‑tank mines, prompting continuous disposal operations to protect residents and river users.

Authorities in both nations are conducting safety checks and heritage preservation work as the low‑water conditions persist.