Gradual Decline of Danube's Water Level near Lom Creates New Small Islands

Risida Dimitrova, BTA correspondent Tsvetomir Tsvetkov

Danube River near Lom, September 11, 2025 (BTA Photo/Tsvetomir Tsvetkov)

Lom, on the Danube,

11.09.2025 19:39

(BTA)

The level of the Danube River near Lom, Northwestern Bulgaria, continues to drop slowly, with Thursday’s measurement at 84 centimetres above sea level, a centimetre lower than the previous day, the Lom Municipality reported. In some sections, small islands have emerged in the middle of the river, an uncommon sight that typically occurs only during periods of very low water.

The falling water level has exposed wide stretches of riverbank, and the water has receded significantly from the protective dikes. The pontoons along the riverbank now sit unusually low, making access via the steep footbridges hazardous.

To help vessels navigate safely and avoid the expanding shallows, markers have been placed in the river to indicate safe channels.

The Danube’s highest recorded level near Lom was 978 centimetres above sea level, on April 23, 2006. Although parts of riverside neighbourhoods were flooded, temporary dikes prevented the water from reaching the city centre. In the years since, a permanent flood wall was constructed to protect Lom from river levels up to 10 metres.

However, recent years have seen less rainfall, and the Danube has remained relatively low, posing no significant flood threat to Lom or the surrounding areas.

/RY/