Danube Reveals Sunken Barge From 1937 After Historic Low

A resident of Lovas, Croatia, discovered a sunken barge in the Danube River near Opatovac after the river reached record low water levels. The discovery prompted a search of local archives, revealing a 1937 newspaper article detailing the sinking of Austrian steamship company barge number 5722. The barge sank while carrying 50 wagons of coal near the Srijem coast, with damage estimated at 400,000 dinars at the time.

The current water level in Batina, Croatia, reached a record low of -101 centimeters, surpassing the previous record from 2022 by 17 centimeters. This extreme drop in water level exposed the remains of a large vessel matching the description and location of the 1937 wreck.

While officials haven’t confirmed the barge’s identity, the Općina Lovas has shared photos and expects experts to investigate further. The investigation will determine if the exposed wreck is indeed the barge lost nearly 90 years ago.