Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Low water level hampers navigation on the Danube

Photo: Svetoslav Tsvetanov, Radio Vidin

The level of the Danube near Ruse is critically low. It is currently minus 55 centimetres. The record low is minus 73 centimetres, measured in 2003, BNT reports. Shipping has virtually stopped and ship owners are suffering losses. The depth of the river near Ruse is currently 7 metres, which is insufficient.


"In order to observe the fluctuations of the water level, a reference cote zero level is taken, from which the measurement starts. The zero level for Ruse is 11.99 cm above sea level," explained Captain Alexander Kamenov. 


A few days ago, ships arrived in Vidin, which have passed through five Danube countries and have not had to stop anywhere because of low water levels, the captain said. But in those countries, the authorities have erected facilities that bring water into the middle of the river when it is low.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The memorial plaque of St. John of Rila on the cathedral in Esztergom, in honor of the Day of Hungarian-Bulgarian Friendship

Bulgarian priest proposes prayer service for successful peace talks in Budapest

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has not held talks regarding a possible overflight of President Vladimir Putin’s plane over Poland, Romania and Bulgaria on the way to Budapest. “It is still too early..

published on 10/20/25 9:36 AM
Daniel Mitov

Bulgaria's Minister of Interior says that Russian intelligence services are aiding illegal migration

Russian spies and hard-left humanitarian groups are working with people smugglers to food Europe with illegal migrants, wrote '' The Times'' , quoting Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov. Daniel Mitov said that the Bulgarian government..

published on 10/20/25 9:19 AM

Showers are expected across much of Bulgaria over the weekend

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will range from 8 to 13°C , around 9°C in Sofia. It will be mostly cloudy with rain in many areas. There will be temporary breaks in cloud cover over southern regions. Overnight into Sunday, cloudiness will begin to..

published on 10/17/25 7:05 PM