Water Levels Hit Record Lows On Danube River; Hungary Shipping Snarled

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Water levels on the Danube dropped to record lows on three sections of the river in Hungary on Wednesday due to a recent drought, hindering passenger cruise ships and causing losses to freight shipping companies. In Budapest the Danube receded to 0.61 meters, just above the record low of 0.51 meters recorded in 2003, the National Water Authority said in a statement.

Tourists and locals flocked to the bottom of the pillars of the historic Margaret bridge to capture a unique view of the Hungarian capital city from the riverbed, with Parliament and the Royal Castle facing each other on the two riverbanks.

But waterways shippers were desperately waiting for rainfall, forecast for the coming days in Austria and Germany, which they hope could help raise water levels in Hungary as well.

Ferenc Kruppa, operations director of freight shipping company Fluvius, said they expected revenue to be 1 million to 1.5 million euros ($1.1 million-$1.7 million) less in the first eight months this year compared to last year, largely due to the shipping difficulties.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-weather-hungary-shipping/water-levels-in-danube-recede-to-record-lows-hindering-shipping-in-hungary-idUSKCN1L71DH