site.btaBarge Carrying Over 1,100 Tonnes of Fertilizer Sinks in Danube River

A barge carrying 1,133 tonnes of nitrogen fertilizer sank completely in the Danube River near the Romanian city of Zimnicea according to local media reports. Zimnicea is located opposite the Bulgarian city of Svishtov.

Authorities are assessing the risk of pollution in the area. Representatives of the Romanian Water Administration have taken several water samples to determine the environmental impact. "Traffic and transport on the Danube are not affected", the Zimnicea Mayor told the Hotnews news website.

According to the available information, the barge arrived in a damaged condition in the Romanian city on December 20. Last week, the vessel began to fill with water, and the crew warned local authorities that there was a risk of sinking. The authorities contacted the Romanian company that owns the vessel and asked them to clean up the area and eliminate the risk of polluting the Danube River.