The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest waterway and a vital transportation corridor across the continent, is experiencing abnormally low water levels, disrupting navigation, agriculture, and local ecosystems along its banks.

This week, temperatures in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, soared to 35°C (95°F), as much of Europe sweltered under an early summer heatwave that has reportedly caused at least eight deaths.

Attila Bencsik, Vice President of the Hungarian Shipping Association, noted that due to the low water levels, cargo vessels are forced to operate at just 30–40% of their capacity, often leaving more than half of their cargo behind. He added that shipping costs could double, as operators may impose surcharges when vessels cannot be fully loaded.

Attila Szegi, Deputy Spokesperson for Hungary’s General Directorate of Water Management, said that while such low water levels on the Danube have occurred before, they typically happen in August. He mentioned that rainfall is forecasted across the Danube Basin next week, which may help raise water levels slightly and improve navigational conditions.

According to HungaroMet, Hungary’s National Meteorological Institute, rainfall in June amounted to only 17% of the monthly average, making it the driest June since records began in 1901.

Elsewhere in Europe, Poland’s Vistula River has reached a record low water level, and Germany's Rhine River is also unusually shallow.

Meteorologist and hydrologist Sykora from Poland’s National Meteorology and Hydrology Center reported that the Vistula dropped to a historic low of 19 centimeters (7.48 inches) on Friday, with further declines expected in the coming days—potentially falling below 15 centimeters.