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

Antimonopoly Commission requests from retail chains data on pricing over spiking food prices

The Commission for the Protection of Competition has launched a survey into the market of essential food products to find out the reasons for the increase in the price of the goods. To this end, the antimonopoly body has requested from the retail..

published on 8/5/25 7:01 PM

Changes to Bulgaria's Road Traffic Law published, take effect in a month

Amendments to Bulgaria’s Road Traffic Law, published in today's issue of the State Gazette, will come into force in one month.  From 5 September, toll cameras will transmit average speed data to the Ministry of the Interior, bTV reports. Drivers..

published on 8/5/25 4:46 PM

Bulgaria’s head of state, Rumen Radev, says it is too soon to discuss the presidential election

President Rumen Radev said on Tuesday it was too soon to discuss the 2026 presidential election , including potential candidates such as current Vice President Iliana Yotova, backed by the opposition Socialist Party (BSP). 'As Ms Yotova herself said,..

published on 8/5/25 3:13 PM