Extreme Freezing Conditions Halt Shipping Along the Danube

At least four Balkan nations along the Danube River have suspended shipping due to severe frost and massive ice that is blocking the popular waterway. Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia have come to this decision based on the fact that 90 percent of the river’s surface is consumed by floating ice. These conditions have made any travelling on Europe’s main commercial waterway almost impossible.

The route winds from Germany and also acts as a natural border between Bulgaria and Romania. Europe has been in a constant battle with the deep freeze for a few weeks; it has already killed hundreds, trapped thousands, and damaged numerous homes.

A frozen Danube usually occurs just once or twice in a lifetime. (February 2006)

Serbian officials have said that the country’s army will use explosives to break up the Danube’s ice, as well as on the Ibar River, to prevent flooding. The Sava and Danube are partially frozen, with large chunks of floating ice, some pieces being almost 6 inches thick.

Serbia has also banned any shipping along the Sava and Tisa rivers, as they are also blocked with ice. Officials state that they will make the best effort possible to break the ice within the next 10 days.