Copernicus Sentinel-2 images released by ESA show a stretch of the Danube about 45 km north of Budapest with markedly lower water levels on 4 August 2026 than in a comparison image from 9 August 2025. The later view shows visible sandbanks and drier surrounding countryside.

According to ESA, the river's level in Hungary has fallen to a record low because of severe drought in central Europe. Low water this year has caused energy and water shortages in and around Budapest and disrupted river barges and ferries. Wildlife is also affected, with fish unable to survive as water temperatures and pollution concentrations rise and oxygen levels decline.

The Danube, the European Union's longest river, flows 2860 km from Germany to the Black Sea. Record low levels have also been reported in Romania. ESA notes that record lows on the Danube have been recorded since 2018, making drought and heatwaves a recurring phenomenon.

The images use modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2025/26) processed by ESA.