The rusting hull of a steam tugboat, the Slovenian, built in the early 1900s, has surfaced from the Sava River near Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia. Locals report that the wreck has never been so exposed, drawing significant public interest.
This discovery comes as prolonged, extreme heat and drought conditions have caused water levels to recede across Europe. The low water levels have impacted shipping, power generation, and exposed historical artifacts.
The Slovenian, originally named Vag, was built in 1913 in Budapest. It navigated the Danube, transporting heavy cargo. During World War I, its routes were largely paused. Following the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the boat was transferred to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians as war reparations and renamed the Slovenian. It later served in World War II, aiding Yugoslav anti-fascist forces in transporting the wounded and equipment. In late April 1945, while carrying wounded fighters, the boat struck a German mine and sank, remaining on the riverbed until recent low water levels exposed its remains.
The Slovenian is not the only relic to emerge from Europe's drying rivers. Rusty remains of German warships, some still laden with weapons, have surfaced from the Danube in Serbia. In Italy, the drought has exposed piers of an ancient Roman bridge over the Tiber River. In Bulgaria, researchers recovered bone fragments from an extinct woolly mammoth from the Danube riverbed.
Europe is experiencing warming at twice the global average since the 1980s. By late July 2026, nearly half of the European Union and the United Kingdom were experiencing drought, with 9% under the most severe "alert" level. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heat and dryness to climate change.
Hydrology experts note that the current drought is a result of low winter snowpack and a dry spring. They warn that such conditions are becoming more frequent and could represent a "new normalcy."