Sunken German WWII vessels surface on the Danube near Prahovo as water levels hit record lows

Record low water levels on the Danube have exposed the remains of German naval vessels near Prahovo, Serbia, officials and local experts say, revealing wrecks that were sunk during World War II.

Dozens of wrecks — patrol boats, tugs and transports — lie along the riverbed; experts warn of unexploded ordnance.

According to assessments by specialists, the riverbed in the Prahovo sector contains tens of German vessels, including patrol boats, tugboats and transport ships. Some wrecks are still buried under river silt while others have become visible as water levels dropped to historic lows.

Those vessels are believed to have been scuttled by the Nazis to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Soviet army during its counterattack. The visible reappearance of hulls and superstructures has renewed concerns about the presence of unused or unexploded munitions inside some wrecks.

Removal and clearance efforts have been attempted in past years, but salvaging these wrecks remains highly complex and dangerous because many contain explosive devices. For decades the submerged remains have been a major navigation hazard on this stretch of the international waterway.

Low Danube levels in recent days are already causing wider problems across the region: with reduced towing power, cargo vessels are able to carry far smaller loads than normal, and parts of the river have approached or reached the limit of navigability.

Social media posts documenting the exposed wrecks circulated on August 2, 2026. One widely shared message read: "A Nazi warship from World War II has resurfaced in the Danube near Prahovo, Serbia, after water levels fell to record lows during Europe’s extreme heatwave. The wreck, sunk more than 80 years ago, is once again visible above the water. pic.twitter.com/IarqJiuUaR"

Photo: DDF news