BUCHAREST, August 7. /TASS/. Dozens of barges and river convoys remain stuck on the Danube between Romania’s Giurgiu and Bulgaria’s Ruse after a sharp drop in water levels disrupted normal navigation, Radio Romania reported.

Many vessels are carrying flammable or toxic cargo, including chemical fertilizers and coal, creating a significant hazard of incidents.

According to the broadcaster, a Serbian-flagged barge carrying coal caught fire on Thursday while anchored near the Romanian shore. Preliminary information suggests that high humidity inside the hold together with high outside temperatures caused the coal to self-ignite. The crew quickly put out the fire, and Giurgiu authorities ordered the barge to be towed out of the port’s waters.

A drought-driven drop in the Danube’s water level has affected navigation. Cruise ships canceled trips over grounding risks, while cargo vessels carry only a fraction of their capacity.

The Danube’s flow at Romania’s entrance fell to a record low of 1,400 cubic meters per second on Friday, with no increase anticipated next week, according to the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management.