Europe’s worst drought in years has dropped the Danube River to one of its lowest levels in a century, with the remains of dozens of German warships sunk near the town of Prahovo emerging from the water. during World War II.
The ships, packed with explosives, were among hundreds sunk in the Danube in 1944 as the German Black Sea Fleet retreated in the face of advancing Soviet forces. To this day, shipwrecks still impede navigation on the river when the water level drops.
This year’s drought, which scientists say is a consequence of global warming, has brought back to light more than 20 skeletons of these ships in a stretch of the Danube in eastern Serbia. Some of these ships contain tons of ammunition and explosives and are considered a danger to navigation. “The German flotilla left behind an ecological disaster that threatens us, the residents of Prahovo,” commented 74-year-old Velimir Trailovic, a retired resident of the town who has written a book about the ships.
Workers in the local fishing industry are also at risk.
The months-long drought and high temperatures are causing river levels to drop in other parts of Europe as well, such as in Germany, Italy and France. In Serbia, authorities resorted to dredging to keep navigation lanes open on the Danube. In the area of Prahovo, due to sunken warships, the navigable section of the Danube has been reduced to 100 meters, from 180 before.
In March, the Serbian government announced a tender to clean up the river and remove ammunition and explosives. The cost is estimated to reach 29 million euros.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
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