A historic boat emerges in Serbia as Europe’s rivers run dry from drought and heat

In Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, the wreck of a steam tugboat from the early 1900s, known as the Slovenian, has surfaced from the shrinking waters of the Sava River. The continent is experiencing prolonged, extreme heat and drought, with Europe's rivers running dry. The rusty hull, once a famed vessel, has never been so exposed, sparking interest among locals.

Historians believe the steam tugboat was made in 1913 in a Budapest shipyard, later renamed the Slovenian and used for cargo transportation between Budapest and other Danube towns. During World War I, its routes paused, and after World War II, it was used to transport wounded fighters and equipment, before sinking in late April 1945 after hitting a German mine.

The drought has also exposed warships, mammoth bones, and parts of ancient constructions from the Danube, Rhine, and other rivers.