The passengers of the cruise ship stranded on the Danube due to drought have been evacuated.

Bulgarian border police have begun the evacuation of 186 passengers from the cruise ship Viking Ullur, which ran aground on the Danube, near the city of Vidin, on July 28, 2026.

The incident occurred around 02:20, in conditions of reduced visibility, due to the low water level. The Ministry of Interior in Sofia announced that the evacuation operation is being carried out with the help of a patrol vessel, and the authorities hope to complete the evacuation before nightfall. The ship, under Swiss flag, was carrying passengers from the European Union and urgently needed drinking water.

Another vessel was chartered to pick up the passengers, but it was unable to get close enough to the stranded ship. In the context of the heatwaves in Europe, the Danube has recorded low water levels, affecting navigation.