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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 20, 2026Miami-Dade

Historic steam tugboat emerges from Serbia's Sava River due to extreme drought

A 20th-century steam tugboat known as the 'Slovenian' has surfaced in the Sava River near Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, as record-low water levels caused by extreme heat and drought expose long-submerged historical relics across Europe. The vessel, which sank in 1945 after hitting a mine, is one of many artifacts, including Nazi-era warships and ancient fossils, currently appearing in receding European waterways.

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Why It Matters

The emergence of these relics highlights the severity of a persistent European drought that is disrupting river commerce, energy production, and water supplies across the continent.

Key Facts

  • The 'Slovenian' tugboat was built in 1913 in Budapest and measures 54 meters (177 feet) in length.
  • The vessel sank in April 1945 after striking a German mine while transporting wounded soldiers.
  • Europe is warming at twice the global average rate since the 1980s.
  • As of late July 2026, half of the European Union and the UK were experiencing drought conditions.
  • 9% of EU territory is currently at the most severe 'alert' level for drought.
  • Low water levels in the Danube have impacted nuclear power plants in Hungary and Romania and halted river traffic.
  • Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years, exposing ancient Roman bridge pillars.
  • Mammoth fossils have been recovered from receding waters in Bulgaria.

Who's Mentioned

personAndrija Popovic“Historian and director of the Sremska Mitrovica city museum.”organizationEuropean Drought Observatory“EU agency monitoring drought levels.”organizationCopernicus Climate Change Service“European Union agency tracking climate data.”personDejan Vladikovic“Serbian hydrology expert.”otherSlovenian“The steam tugboat that emerged from the Sava River.”