On July 28, 2026, the Viking river cruise ship Viking Ullur ran aground on the Danube River near Vidin, Bulgaria, while carrying 186 passengers and 52 crew members. The grounding occurred when the vessel came into contact with a sandbank during an episode of exceptionally low water levels, the lowest in three decades.
Rescue Operations and Passenger Evacuation
Bulgaria’s Border Police coordinated the evacuation after a second vessel had to be dispatched to assist because the initial vessel could not approach closely enough. Passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. Following the rescue, the travelers continued their scheduled day trip in Bucharest,
Romania. Viking confirmed ongoing communication with affected guests and their travel advisors regarding the situation.
Environmental Conditions Causing River Navigation Challenges
The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest, extends from Germany’s Black Forest through several countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, before emptying into the Black Sea. In late July 2026, drought-like conditions fueled by reduced rainfall, prolonged summers, and extreme heatwaves have caused historically low water levels along the river. These conditions affected the ship’s navigation and have impacted other river cruise operations, including sailings on the Danube and Rhine rivers.
Official Statements and Industry Impact
Viking stated the grounding was caused by the ship “coming into contact with a sandbank during a
period of exceptionally low water levels.” The cruise line emphasized that “the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is always our highest priority” and added, “There were no injuries to guests or crew, and the vessel remained safe throughout the incident.” Avalon Waterways also cited the low water levels in the Danube and Rhine rivers as reasons for canceling some of their sailings. Attempts to refloat Viking Ullur remain unsuccessful as of the latest reports.
