Danube River Dries Up From Drought, Revealing Mammoth Bones

[Anchor]

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

Reporter Kim Yongtae has the story.

[Reporter]

As the severe drought continues, water levels in the Danube River, which flows through 10 European countries, continue to drop.

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

In Bulgaria, as parts of the riverbed dried up, mammoth bones believed to date back to the Ice Age were discovered.

The Historical Museum of Bulgaria stated that the remains are presumed to include a mammoth's lower jaw, tusk fragments, and a femur.

[Nikolai / Director, Ruse Museum, Bulgaria: At this water level point of the Danube River, there must have been a marshland where a mammoth died thousands of years ago. If you visit there, you will be able to learn more details.]

Mammoths went extinct about 4,000 years ago.

The shrinking water volume is also disrupting shipping operations and nuclear power plant operations.

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

Romania has also suspended the operation of one nuclear reactor and warned of additional shutdowns.

Due to low water levels, cruise ships passing through the Danube River have run aground, forcing tourists to evacuate.

Amid heatwaves and droughts, wildfires that have already caused massive damage in countries such as 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 Seunghee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.