Europe's river levels plunge due to drought and extreme heat over the summer, exposing World War II ships and stranding boats

Europe's river levels plunge due to drought and extreme heat over the summer, exposing World War II ships and stranding boats, according to a France 24 report published Aug. 7. The account is developing and has not been independently confirmed beyond that single report.^[1]

The France 24 report said water levels on the Danube River, described as the second longest in Europe, have dropped so low that the hulls of dozens of German warships from World War II are emerging into view, and that the remains of an ancient mammoth were uncovered in Romania.^[1]

Danube drop exposes wartime hulls in Romania reach

France 24 attributed the low water on the Danube to drought and extreme heat over the summer. According to that same developing report, the receding water has left dozens of wartime vessels visible in the riverbed, a detail reported without independent verification so far.^[1]

The report also said remains of what it described as an ancient mammoth were uncovered in Romania as levels fell, providing the only location detail given for that find.^[1]

Fishing boats stuck on Rhine, Loire sections dry

Further west, France 24 reported that fishing boats have been stuck near the banks of the Rhine in Germany and that sections of France's Loire riverbed are partially dry. Those disruptions were described in the single France 24 picture report and have not yet been independently confirmed.^[1]