Danube's Melting Ice Causes Ship to Sink, Trapped Smaller Boats Now Free-Floating

Romanian authorities have reported that a cargo ship carrying about 700 tons of corn has sunk in Romania’s portion of the Danube River, also where numerous small boats are floating aimlessly, after huge ice chunks have recently melted in the river due to rising temperatures. No injuries have been confirmed.

Large areas of the international waterway have been blocked by thick layers of ice, as the region experienced a deep freeze that claimed more than 600 lives. Again, some 50 small boats previously trapped in the ice are now free floating in the river.

An unidentified Port of Giurgiu identified the sunken ship as a motorized Romanian vessel and said it sunk throughout the night in the southeast region of Romania. The crew reportedly escaped successfully.