The Danube River continues to recede along Bulgaria's stretch, with water levels remaining critically low and navigation restrictions still in effect. Data from the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River for August 6 show that the river level near Ruse fell by another 4 centimeters over the past 24 hours, reaching minus 97 centimeters relative to the reference zero level.
Low water levels were also recorded at the country's other main hydrometric stations: Vidin at minus 26 centimeters, Lom at minus 11 centimeters, Oryahovo at minus 89 centimeters, Nikopol at minus 5 centimeters, Svishtov at minus 44 centimeters, and Silistra at minus 79 centimeters. Water temperatures along the Bulgarian section of the river currently range between 26C and 28C.
The prolonged drought continues to affect navigation. Reduced fairway gauges remain in operation along a large part of the Bulgarian section of the Danube, between river kilometers 374 and 610, because of the low water levels. Several critical stretches have narrowed channels and reduced depths, forcing vessels to comply with draft restrictions, although individual ships are still able to pass through the area near Ruse.
