DANUBE WATER LEVELS HIT 30-YEAR LOW AS NAZI WARSHIPS EMERGE

Sunken Nazi warships have become visible on the riverbed of the Danube in Serbia as water levels dropped to their lowest point in 30 years. Dozens of German vessels, part of an estimated 200 ships deliberately sunk by German forces during their retreat from Soviet forces towards the end of the Second World War, have surfaced during Europe's heatwave. The river's water levels plummeted on 30 July to record lows across several countries, including Serbia and Romania. The low water levels are expected to disrupt energy production across Europe as cooling systems fail.

Serbia's primary hydroelectric plant can now operate at only 20 per cent of its normal capacity as a result of the reduced water levels. The exposed warships remain on the riverbed as the Danube continues to recede. Officials in affected countries have raised concerns about the wider consequences of the drought conditions for power generation. The heatwave affecting Europe has created conditions severe enough to reveal infrastructure and vessels submerged for decades.

The crisis threatens an energy shortage across multiple European nations dependent on the Danube for hydroelectric power generation. Water levels are expected to remain low whilst heat conditions persist across the continent. The emergence of the warships has drawn public attention to the scale of Second World War casualties and infrastructure losses in the region. European energy authorities are monitoring the situation as demand for cooling power increases during continued high temperatures.