Barge carrying chemical fertilizers sinks in the Danube near Romania's Zimnicea

A barge loaded with 1,133 tonnes of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers has completely sunk in the Danube River near the Romanian town of Zimnicea, Romanian media report.

Zimnicea is located opposite the Bulgarian town of Svishtov.

Authorities are currently assessing the risk of pollution in the area, and water samples have been taken. The mayor of Zimnicea has assured that traffic and transport on the Danube have not been affected, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.

According to the available information, the barge arrived in the Romanian town on December 20 and suffered damage already at that time. Last week, the vessel began taking on water. Members of the crew warned that there was a risk of sinking. The authorities contacted the barge’s crew as well as the Romanian company that owns the vessel, requesting that they clean up the area and eliminate the risk of pollution to the Danube River.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova
English version: R. Petkova