The wreck of a 1913 steam tugboat, known as the Slovenian, has fully emerged from the Sava River near Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, following record-low water levels caused by prolonged drought and extreme heat across Europe.
The rusting hull, measuring approximately 177 feet (54 meters) in length, was first built in Budapest, Hungary, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire and initially named Vag, a Hungarian reference to Slovakia’s Vah River. Local media have dubbed the vessel 'Sava's Titanic' due to its sudden reappearance after years submerged.
Historian Andrija Popovic, head of the Sremska Mitrovica town museum, confirmed the wreck’s unprecedented exposure, stating it had not been this visible in several years. Popovic noted the boat’s historical significance, including its survival through two World Wars before sinking.
Drought exposes relics across Europe
The Slovenian is among numerous artifacts uncovered by falling water levels in major European rivers, including the Danube, Rhine, and Sava. The drought has disrupted trade, power generation, and water supplies, with impacts documented across multiple countries.
In Hungary and Romania, the Danube River’s record lows have severely affected nuclear power plants, while river traffic has halted along Europe’s second-largest waterway. Crops have been ravaged from the Netherlands to Bosnia, and water shortages have extended into the Alps, compounding environmental and economic strain.
Historical context of the Slovenian
According to Popovic, the Slovenian (originally named Vag) was constructed in 1913 and primarily operated as a cargo-pulling steamboat along the Danube. During World War I, its operations were largely paused, and ownership changes followed the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the war. The vessel’s exact sinking date and cause remain unverified, though it is believed to have occurred decades ago.
The wreck’s emergence has drawn local interest, with residents and historians documenting the rare sight. No immediate plans for recovery or preservation have been announced, though the exposure provides an opportunity for further study of early 20th-century maritime history in the region.