Vucic warns of imminent suspension of navigation on the Danube

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has warned of a likely halt to navigation on the Danube due to abnormal heat and the river's severe shallowing, RIA Novosti reports.

This, in turn, poses a direct threat to the operation of the country's only oil refinery, in Pancevo. On August 3, Serbia will hold the third meeting of the republic's emergency situations headquarters amid 40-degree heat and critically low water levels in the rivers. The day before, Prime Minister Djuro Macut urged citizens to conserve electricity.

The head of state reported that the refinery has run into difficulties because of the water shortage, and the crisis headquarters will look for solutions to prevent the plant from shutting down. Vucic also noted that in two or three days navigation on the Danube could become completely impossible — the cargo capacity of vessels already has to be reduced by 50 percent. He expressed hope that emergency measures would help avoid a collapse.