As the river dries up, the wrecks of the war are exposed

 

TT-AP

 

Published 10.37

  

A dozen German warships have been exposed in the dried-up Danube River. Photo: Darko Vojinovic /AP/TT

In the Danube River, record low water levels have exposed the hulls of German warships from World War II.

A dozen or so rusty hulls tower over the dried-up riverbed on the border between Serbia and Romania. The ships, which belonged to Nazi Germany's Black Sea Fleet, were deliberately sunk when the country retreated during World War II. Some are still said to be loaded with weapons and explosives.

According to experts, up to 200 German warships were sunk in the Danube, near the Serbian village of Prahovo.

Serbian authorities have long tried to do something about the wrecks. Some have been removed, but most remain because of the risk posed by the weapons cargo.

The low water levels in the Danube have also forced nuclear power plants along the river, which is Europe's second longest, to shut down.