Drought exposes WWII-era shipwreck in Serbia's Danube
Severe drought and heatwaves across Europe have lowered river levels enough to expose the wreck of a century-old tugboat in Serbia's Danube. The vessel sank in 1945 after striking a German mine.
Heatwaves and severe drought conditions across Europe have caused river levels to drop sharply this summer, uncovering historical remains that had been hidden beneath the water for decades. Among the latest finds is the wreck of the tugboat Slovenac in the Danube in Serbia — a 112-year-old vessel whose hull and interior are now visible above the waterline. Local residents say they have never before seen so much of the ship exposed at once.
The tug was built in Budapest in 1913, when the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The 54-metre steam-powered vessel was originally named Vag, after the Váh River in what is now Slovakia, and was used to haul heavy cargo between Budapest and other towns along the Danube.
From Vag to Slovenac
Following the First World War and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the ship became part of the newly established Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and was renamed Slovenac. During the Second World War, it carried equipment and wounded fighters after Yugoslav anti-fascist forces recaptured Belgrade.
In April 1945, while transporting wounded fighters, the vessel struck a German mine and sank. It has remained in the same spot on the riverbed ever since.
The wreck provides a rare, tangible link to the region's wartime history and forms part of a broader trend across Europe, where receding waters have revealed sunken boats, military equipment and other archaeological remains. As droughts grow more severe and river levels more unpredictable, further hidden relics may surface in the coming years.
