Water levels of the Danube river in Romania fell to their lowest since 1996 ​over the weekend, prompting irrigation restrictions for ‌farmers and partially disrupting shipping and tourism along its banks.

Waterways across Europe have been affected by prolonged heatwaves and ​drought this year and the average peak ​temperature across Western Europe on Monday was forecast ⁠to be 26.2 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees above ​the normal high for July 20, the Reuters Climate ​Monitor shows.

Romania's state water-management agency said the level at the Romanian entry point of Europe's second-longest river was 1,700 cubic ​metres of water per second on Sunday, against ​a July average range of 4,700 cubic metres per second.

Reuters ‌footage ⁠showed long stretches of exposed sand on the banks near the border with neighbouring Bulgaria, with several ferry services suspended and grain barges standing idle.

Romania ​is among ​the European ⁠Union's largest grain sellers and an active exporter.

Authorities had restricted farmer access to ​water for crop irrigation in southeastern Romania ​and ⁠controlled water reservoirs to ensure minimum levels required for cooling state nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica's two reactors.

Danube ⁠levels ​were projected to increase gradually ​from Monday thanks to heavy rain in several counties, the water ​management agency said.


-Reuters