Danube River Dries Up in Drought, Revealing Mammoth Bones

[Anchor]

Following record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires, most of Europe is suffering from severe drought. As water levels in the Danube River, one of Europe's largest waterways, dropped to historic lows, bones of mammoths that went extinct thousands of years ago have been discovered.

Reporter Kim Yongtae has the details.

[Reporter]

As the severe drought continues, the water level of the Danube River, which flows through 10 European countries, continues to drop.

In Hungary, the water level of the Danube was measured at 23 cm a day ago, which is 10 cm lower than the previous record low of 33 cm.

In Bulgaria, as the riverbed exposed itself, mammoth bones believed to have lived during the Ice Age were discovered.

The Historical Museum of Bulgaria stated that they are presumed to be a mammoth's lower jaw, fragments of tusks, and a femur.

[Nikolai / Director, Rousse Museum, Bulgaria: At this water level point of the Danube River, there must have been a swampy area where perhaps a mammoth died thousands of years ago. If you visit the place, you will find out more details.]

Mammoths went extinct about 4,000 years ago.

As the water volume decreases, disruptions are also occurring in shipping navigation and nuclear power plant operations.

In particular, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary, which uses Danube River water for cooling, has suspended operation of one of its four reactors.

Romania has also suspended the operation of one reactor and announced additional suspensions.

Due to the low water levels, cruise ships passing through the Danube have run aground, leading to tourists being evacuated.

Amid heatwaves and droughts, wildfires that have already caused major damage in countries like France, Spain, and Greece continue to spread.

Human casualties are also mounting, with three firefighters killed while battling wildfires on the Greek island of Crete.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.