Danube water crisis hits energy and trade in Serbia and Bulgaria while mammoth remains are found

Danube water crisis hits energy production and trade in Serbia and Bulgaria

While the heat wave in Serbia has lowered water levels on the Danube, negatively impacting hydropower production and agriculture, restrictions have been placed on shipping traffic in Bulgaria. The receding waters have also uncovered prehistoric mammoth remains.

Scraper SystemAugust 01, 2026, 11:51 AM

Danube water crisis hits energy production and trade in Serbia and Bulgaria

The heat wave affecting Serbia and Bulgaria has led to a serious drop in water levels on the Danube. This has had negative impacts on energy production and river trade in both countries, while also unexpectedly leading to archaeological discoveries.

The Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia announced that the river level in the Novi Sad area dropped another 2 centimeters in a single day and that the decline is continuing. A new heat wave is hitting the country, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. Experts warn that the continuing heat will further reduce water levels.

According to media reports, the low water level has reduced the production capacity of hydroelectric power plants and brought irrigation activities to a halt in some areas. In Novi Sad, the sand islands that emerged due to the receding waters are being used as beaches by the public, while some boats were stranded on the muddy bottom.

On the Bulgarian side, the Danube River Research and Maintenance Administration announced that while shipping traffic continues, temporary restrictions have been imposed on cargo loads and navigation channel width in critical areas. The drop in water levels has restricted vessel traffic.

The receding river waters also led to the discovery of prehistoric remains in Bulgaria's Ruse region. During work carried out by experts from the Ruse History Museum near the village of Ryahovo, remains believed to belong to a woolly mammoth were found. The finds, consisting of a lower jawbone, thigh bone fragments, teeth and numerous bone fragments, are believed to belong to a young mammoth that lived around 10,000 years ago. It is assessed that the remains may have accumulated in a swampy area or been transported there by water.

Danube water crisis hits energy production and trade in Serbia and Bulgaria