The Danube has fallen to critically low levels near Calafat in southern Romania, severely disrupting river traffic and leaving dozens of commercial vessels unable to navigate the affected stretch. Prolonged drought and extreme temperatures have dramatically altered the riverbed, with large areas of exposed sand and land creating what local media described as a desert-like landscape.
A resident of Calafat who has lived in the area for more than seven decades said the scale of the retreating water was unprecedented in his experience.
“I have lived in Calafat for over 70 years, I was born and raised here, but I have never seen anything like this. The water has receded before, but now it is possible to walk between the big and small islands,” he told Didji24.
The critically low levels have made navigation in the Calafat-Beket sector extremely difficult and, in some locations, impossible. Port facilities around Calafat that normally handle grain shipments have been closed because cargo barges can no longer reach the shore.
Passenger and cruise vessels have also suspended services further upstream, particularly around Drobeta-Turnu Severin, with tourists being transported back from the affected area.
