Key actors — tap for context
Rhine
Europe's most heavily used inland waterway, connects the Rotterdam port with the industrial hinterland of Germany and Switzerland.
Why here: The flow at Lobith fell to 614 cubic meters per second, which is below the drought record from November 1947.
Lobith
Dutch municipality at the German border where the Rhine's flow is measured as it enters the Netherlands.
Why here: Reference station whose reading of 614 cubic meters per second has broken the previous drought record.
Kaub
Town in Rhineland-Palatinate between Koblenz and Mainz, on one of the shallowest sections of the Rhine.
Why here: This is where there is a threat that navigation will be interrupted and the river will split into upper and lower sections.
Paks
Hungary's only nuclear power plant, covers approximately one third of the country's electricity consumption.
Why here: After weeks of running at half capacity, it is restarting the third turbine of the second unit on Monday evening.
More info →Danube
Europe's second longest river, flowing through ten countries from Germany to Ukraine.
Why here: Its water level in Hungary has risen, but near the Bulgarian Ruse it has fallen another two centimeters.
Triodos
Dutch bank focused on sustainable financing, active in Belgium as well.
Why here: Predicts that heatwaves and drought will push the Belgian economy into decline.
What "splitting the Rhine" means
- Power plants on the Rhine produce 35 to 60 percent less electricity due to low water levels Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- The Bella Tola glacier has completely melted and others are expected to follow SRF ↗
- Tagesschau maps how drought and low water are changing everyday life Tagesschau ↗
- The Rhine has fallen to the lowest level in measurement history — navigable depth is 11 centimeters NU.nl ↗Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- FAZ from Rhineland: "We are watching ourselves collapse into our own ruin" FAZ ↗
- Switzerland is expected to have rain from Sunday, but it will hardly help the drought SRF ↗
- Transport Minister Bilger proposed a solution that goes beyond this season: to deepen and widen rivers Tagesschau ↗Welt ↗FAZ ↗
- At the same time, he assures that supply is secured even at low water levels Tagesspiegel ↗
- ZDF asks how much that is actually new that the new minister brings ZDF heute ↗
- Switzerland reports that every second major river is at its lowest summer level in history Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- Welt warns of "complete disruption of transportation routes": Covestro and other chemical companies are already cutting production Welt ↗
- FAZ writes that low water is driving industry into crisis, Spiegel adds that it is paralyzing companies and driving up prices FAZ ↗Spiegel ↗
- An economist from the IW Institute is already calculating production failures n-tv ↗
- The German Inland Navigation Association toughened its stance in the afternoon: The Rhine will no longer be continuously navigable. Luxemburger Wort ↗
- Dutch newspaper AD reports that the Rhine threatens to be "cut" in two parts in Germany and domestic inland navigation faces major problems. AD ↗
- Ouest-France writes that the river is "increasingly pressed to its limits", and n-tv already speaks of navigation on the Rhine almost coming to a standstill — the Sunday truck traffic ban has been suspended by a fifth federal state. Ouest-France ↗n-tv ↗
It's not that the river has dried up. It's that in some sections the water level falls below the depth needed by a loaded cargo ship — and navigation is interrupted at one point that separates the upper part of the flow from the lower.
- The German Inland Navigation Association warns that the Rhine will soon split into two parts and cargo transport on it will not be possible. The news was picked up by all major German news outlets within a day. Tagesschau ↗n-tv ↗Tagesspiegel ↗
- The association phrases it even more bluntly: The Rhine will soon not be navigable along its entire length. Tagesspiegel ↗
- Spiegel speaks of "alarming water gauge readings" and fears of an interruption of the entire Rhine route. Spiegel ↗ZDF heute ↗
- The critical point is the section between Koblenz and Mainz near the town of Kaub. This is where the river is shallowest and where the interruption would occur. NOS ↗
- Dutch measurements: the flow at Lobith has fallen to 614 cubic meters per second. The previous drought record was 620 cubic meters from November 4, 1947. AD ↗NOS ↗
- Meanwhile, smaller waterways have also been closed — Delftse Schie and Twentekanaal. Ships that are still operating are not allowed to be fully loaded. NOS ↗
- Switzerland is dealing with the same from the other end: the operator has extended the emergency timetable on the Rhine and Lake Untersee until the end of the season. Tages-Anzeiger ↗SRF ↗
One ship for forty trucks
- Trucks are arriving at Basel ports instead of ships — "it is torment" Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- Inland navigation has submitted a three-point plan ZDF heute ↗
- Additional federal states have lifted the Sunday truck traffic ban Tagesschau ↗
- Three more federal states have lifted the Sunday truck traffic ban — Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were added Welt ↗Tagesschau ↗Spiegel ↗
This is where the debate fractures. The German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland suspended the Sunday truck traffic ban so that cargo that cannot be carried by ship can be transported by road. But the ratio is unfavorable.
- "To compensate for one small inland ship we would need over 40 trucks." One sentence that explains why road transport cannot replace water transport. Welt ↗
- The suspension of the Sunday truck traffic ban has sparked a controversial debate in Germany. Der Standard ↗
- German shipping operators fear for the very existence of the Rhine route, not just for one season. Der Standard ↗
- According to Dutch forecasts, no improvement is expected in the next two weeks. NOS ↗
As the Rhine Falls, the Danube Returns
- Hungary's army will build a dam on the Danube and sink two barges to raise the water level at Paks. Opposition leader Magyar Péter published footage of the preparatory work Digi24 ↗HVG ↗
- Pro TV clarifies the bill for Cernavoda's shutdown: Romania will lose 680 megawatts and the power plant is to restart only after conditions improve Pro TV Stirile ↗
- Drought triggers a domino effect of shut-down nuclear blocks in Europe: France, Hungary and now Romania El Español ↗
- Lake Neusiedl is approaching a historic low Die Presse ↗Der Standard ↗
- Romanian expert names the root of the problem: "Our political class doesn't believe in climate change" HotNews ↗
- Hungary will artificially raise the Danube water level at Paks: an emergency decree has been issued and the first barge to be sunk is already in place Index ↗24.hu ↗
- The river bottom threshold at Paks was published in the gazette as a priority investment HVG ↗
- Die Presse sums up two opposite interventions in the same river: Bavaria wants to dredge the riverbed, Hungary to raise the water level Die Presse ↗
- Bulgarian and Ukrainian media are following Hungary's intervention as a cross-border matter 24 Chasa ↗Interfax Ukraine ↗
- In Albania, the receding Danube revealed the remains of soldiers and a motorcycle from World War II Balkanweb ↗
- The low level of the Tiber in Rome, in turn, revealed the remains of an ancient Roman bridge Politika ↗
- The low Danube combined with the war in the Black Sea into a double threat to Ukrainian grain exports G4Media ↗
- Drought in Austria is driving more livestock to slaughter, beef could become more expensive in 2027 Die Presse ↗
- Bulgarian media add that Austria is withdrawing livestock from pastures early and sending them to the slaughterhouse Dnevnik ↗
- In Italy, drought threatens the harvest and water has been restricted in Savona La Stampa ↗La Stampa ↗
- Il Manifesto warns of the other side of the same crisis: after drought comes the risk of floods Il Manifesto ↗
- In France, fountains stopped flowing in Aix-en-Provence, in dozens of departments an orange alert is in effect BFM TV ↗BFM TV ↗
- The European Commission, however, does not see a threat to energy supplies in Europe from extreme heat waves Ukrayinska Pravda ↗
- Paks is back: after the rise in the Danube water level, two turbines are producing electricity again Telex ↗Portfolio ↗Népszava ↗
- Bulgarian media add the other side of the same river: Audi, BMW and Mercedes are worried about their Hungarian plants because of the state of the Danube 24 Chasa ↗
- In Italy, the Po and pre-Alpine lakes are dried up and a state of emergency applies to the Po valley; tomorrow will bring the peak of the heat wave with a red alert in 27 out of 27 cities Il Sole 24 Ore ↗La Repubblica ↗
- The Danube water level rose and Hungary switched on a turbine at Paks, but Serbian Politika reported on the same day that the water level fell again and Romania continues to deepen the riverbed. Dnevnik ↗Politika ↗
- Near the Bulgarian city of Ruse, record low water revealed the wreck of a sunken ship, near Silistra they found a hand grenade in the riverbed. 24 Chasa ↗24 Chasa ↗
- Low water on the Danube is slowing Ukrainian grain exports through Romania — and this at an already worsened forecast for Russian attacks on ports. Censor.NET ↗Censor.NET ↗
- Romania's Iron Gates are producing half the energy against a five-year average. Digi24 ↗
- In Poland, an even older memory of the river came to light: hunger stones with messages from previous generations — "If you see me, cry." Rzeczpospolita ↗
This is the strangest thing on today's date. While western Europe is collapsing, in the east the crisis we wrote about at the end of July is beginning to turn around.
- Hungary's Paks power plant is to switch on the third turbine of the second block again on Monday evening, according to Prime Minister Magyar. The power plant has been running at half capacity for weeks. Népszava ↗HVG ↗Telex ↗
- The Danube water level in Hungary has risen and another Paks turbine is returning to operation. Magyar Nemzet ↗Portfolio ↗
- On the lower course, however, this does not apply: near the Bulgarian city of Ruse, the Danube fell by another two centimetres. One river, two opposite trends. 24 Chasa ↗
- Drought, on the other hand, is holding on in Italy: the Tiber is at its lowest level in the last 15 years. Libertatea ↗
- And in Serbia, restrictions are already being introduced: Čačak has implemented water restrictions due to the low level of the Rzav River. Nova ↗N1 Serbia ↗
We discussed in detail the Danube part of the story — the shutdown of the Romanian Cernavoda and the threat to Paks — in the article Record low Danube shut down a nuclear reactor in Romania.
Economists Are Already Counting the Bill
- Electricity prices are rising sharply in Germany due to drought and in France due to declining nuclear production G4Media ↗
- Austria: drought will raise meat prices, transport minister Hanke calls for "joint effort to combat drought" Kurier ↗Kleine Zeitung ↗
- Netherlands reports record number of watering bans, water boards issuing dozens of fines AD ↗
- France: increasing tension over drinking water supply — "we are in uncharted territory" Le Monde ↗
- A Walloon municipality doesn't want to grow beyond five thousand inhabitants because water is lacking Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- Scientists warn that drought helps spread West Nile virus AGI ↗
- Novi Pazar has banned garden watering and pool filling due to drought Kurir ↗
- Dutch gas storage tanks are months behind previous years and refilling is expensive de Volkskrant ↗
- Europe's gas reserves are at their lowest before winter and reviving concerns about prices at the turn of 2026 and 2027 Le Monde ↗
- Electricity prices in Europe soared due to heat wave and solar eclipse, warns Bloomberg Censor.NET ↗
- Austria is preparing a relief package for farmers affected by drought, water is running out in Carinthian cottages Die Presse ↗Kleine Zeitung ↗
- Austrian pumpkin farmers face crop failures: "It has never been like this year" Kleine Zeitung ↗
- Finnish food company Apetit issued a profit warning — drought destroyed the pea crop Yle ↗
- In the Netherlands, despite drought, most vegetables and fruits are still for sale: "But this cannot continue like this for long" AD ↗
- France announced record early dates for the start of grape harvest in Champagne La Libre ↗
- Luxembourg suggests: air conditioning only as a last resort — there have been over 500 fires since 2022 Luxembourg Times ↗Luxemburger Wort ↗
- Dutch drought damage runs into hundreds of millions and De Telegraaf sums it up in one sentence: "one way or another, the consumer will pay" De Telegraaf ↗
- Vegetable growers from Dutch Westland are in distress and De Telegraaf's editorial asks why emergency scenarios were not prepared De Telegraaf ↗
- New watering bans emerged in the Netherlands and football clubs worry about dried-out pitches; Trouw reminds that water management board members did not return from vacation due to unprecedented drought NOS ↗Trouw ↗
- Switzerland is working on a water agreement with Italy and France — water conflict is ceasing to be theory SRF ↗
- Swiss rivers are drying up, fish are dying and hospitals report circulatory stress from heat waves Tages-Anzeiger ↗SRF ↗
- France introduced water consumption restrictions and in some places banned car washing, orange heat warning applies to 67 departments including Paris Klix.ba ↗BFM TV ↗
- In England, almost the entire territory has a heat warning and drought has affected over 70 percent of the country BBC News ↗BBC News ↗
- Austria: drought brings a "shock" that should lead to better soil protection Kleine Zeitung ↗
- In Bosnia and Herzegovina water levels are falling, residents face restrictions and one entire city was left without water Radio Sarajevo ↗Radio Sarajevo ↗
- In Slovenia, only slightly more than half of the long-term average precipitation fell; Delo calculates that thousands of hectares could be irrigated with treated wastewater Delo ↗Delo ↗
- Copernicus confirmed that oceans had the highest temperatures in July in measurement history Digi24 ↗
- Swedish SVT warns that heat in Europe may raise food prices — which are globally the highest in three years according to de Volkskrant SVT ↗de Volkskrant ↗
- Il Sole 24 Ore calculated the cost of drought for Europe at up to 74 billion euros and 960 thousand jobs; Polish Do Rzeczy summed it up as an "astronomical sum". Il Sole 24 Ore ↗Do Rzeczy ↗
- Austria speaks of a "historic drought catastrophe" and damage of one billion euros, Totschnig promises money for uninsured farmers too. Die Presse ↗Kurier ↗
- France reports the smallest corn harvest since 1980 and two-thirds of water tables below normal. Luxembourg Times ↗L'Obs ↗
- England declared drought in 71 percent of territory and called on 45 million people to conserve water; under rationing, car washes and gym pools could close. The Mirror ↗The Mirror ↗
- Italian heat is reducing milk production by a tenth and in the Po basin, pre-Alpine lakes are nearly depleted. Corriere della Sera ↗Il Sole 24 Ore ↗
- In the Netherlands, the response to damage so far is administrative: those affected by drought should contact their insurance companies. Trouw ↗
- Dutch bank Triodos predicts that heat waves and drought will push Belgian economy into decline. This is not a warning from ecologists, but a growth forecast. De Standaard ↗
- Swiss SRF speaks of "climateflation" — climate will soon be a bigger price factor than Middle East war, it says. SRF ↗
- Austrian Die Presse translates it into growth terms: extreme heat waves threaten economic growth across the Union. Die Presse ↗
- Greek Protothema adds numbers and direction: damages run into hundreds of billions of euros and the south suffers most. Protothema ↗
- Copernicus meanwhile confirmed that Western Europe has experienced its warmest June-July period in measurement history. taz ↗
- Luxembourg reports one of the few good news items: drinking water reserves have held up despite heat and drought. Luxembourg Times ↗
Limits of This Perspective
This is the fifth and final update wave of this article. Further developments in drought on European rivers and its impact on energy will be covered in a separate text — the legend above the article would become unclear with further updates.The figure of 614 cubic meters per second is the lowest drought minimum in measurement history, but not the lowest recorded flow. According to hydrometeorogist Jan Verkade, the lowest recorded Rhine flow was 575 cubic meters per second in February 1929 — then caused by an ice jam, not drought. The difference is substantial: 1929 was a winter anomaly, 2026 is the peak of summer. (NOS ↗)
The warning about Rhine division is at the same time a forecast by an interest group, not a state that has already occurred. Whether and when an interruption will actually happen depends on precipitation in the watershed in the next two weeks. The data in this text is valid as of August 10, 2026.
What Hotinfo Monitors
- Whether navigation on the Rhine at Kaub will actually be interrupted and the river will be split into upper and lower sections.
- Whether other German states will also lift Sunday truck driving bans and how the dispute over the point of such action will turn out.
- Whether Hungarian Paks will maintain renewed production or will have to reduce output again.
- Whether the Danube decline in the lower course at Ruse will stop or will continue against the trend in Hungary.
- Whether Triodos's forecast of Belgian economic decline will also be reflected in official growth estimates.
