Stagnation and minimal rise in Danube water levels over the past 24 hours

Stagnation and a minimal rise in the water level of the Danube have been recorded over the past 24 hours, the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River reports.

At the gauging stations in Ruse, Lom and Novo Selo, water levels have fallen by 1-2 centimetres. Stagnation has been recorded at the stations in Oryahovo, Nikopol and Svishtov, while in Silistra the level has risen by 4 centimetres.

No vessels have been found stranded either within or outside the navigable channel, the River Supervision Directorate reports. All restrictions on the draught of vessels remain in force along the entire Bulgarian stretch of the river. Hydrological conditions remain difficult.

Yesterday, a minimal rise of 1-2 centimetres in the Danube water level was recorded in parts of the Bulgarian section, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) recalls.

“It is too early to speak of a sustained rise in water levels. After mid-September, we expect this to gradually occur, along with an improvement in navigation,” Prof. Emil Gachev of the Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences told BNR. According to him, what happened this summer is a serious warning sign, and such situations are likely to become increasingly frequent.

Edited by Diana Tsankova