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

Road Infrastructure Agency proposes restrictions on the movement of heavy trucks on motorways during holidays

The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) has proposed the introduction of temporary restrictions on the movement of heavy trucks weighing over 12 tons along the country’s busiest motorways — Trakia, Hemus and Struma— during official holidays in 2026. The..

published on 11/10/25 6:05 PM

Sofia City Court postpones the extradition case of the owner of a ship linked to the explosion in Lebanon

The Sofia City Court has postponed the extradition case of Igor Grechushkin, the owner of a cargo ship linked to the explosion at the port of Beirut in 2020, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people and injured thousands. The judges requested..

published on 11/10/25 5:33 PM

Experts and employers discuss opportunities for migrants in the Bulgarian labour market

A conference entitled 'Prospects for the Integration of Refugees and Migrants into the Labour Market' is taking place in Sofia today. The event is organised by the Sofia Municipality as part of a project. It will bring together key experts,..

published on 11/10/25 4:49 PM