Mine event in Budapest, Batthyány Square area, Hungary on Sun 2nd August 2026

Extremely low water levels in the Danube are keeping the Hungarian Defense Forces’ explosive ordnance disposal unit busy. At the same time, the dried-up riverbed is revealing fascinating insights into the Hungarian capital’s past.

The ongoing heatwave is causing the Danube’s water level in the Budapest metropolitan area to drop steadily. While this poses an obstacle to shipping, it has sparked excitement among historians and is currently keeping the explosive ordnance disposal team working around the clock.

On the evening of August 2, dangerous remnants of the past came to light at the boat dock on Batthyány Square’s riverfront.

The falling water level revealed various explosive devices from World War II that had been hidden in the mud for decades.

Based on the statement from the Hungarian Defense Forces’ emergency response unit, special forces on the scene were able to identify and secure ten TMi-35 anti-tank mines, one hand grenade, and one kilogram of assorted infantry ammunition.

Just a few hundred meters away, near the Buda end of the Elisabeth Bridge, passersby also came across a significantly older artifact: a medieval cannonball. The discovery prompted a police operation on Sunday evening around 8:30 p.m. To ensure the bomb squad could safely remove the projectile, police closed the road to vehicle traffic for 500 meters northbound starting from the Buda end of the Elisabeth Bridge. Pedestrian traffic along the riverbank was also temporarily restricted. However, the Elisabeth Bridge itself did not need to be closed.

All recovered items were transported to the central collection point of the Hungarian Defense Forces.

In addition to the ammunition finds, the low water level is currently offering residents and tourists an extraordinary spectacle. The water is so shallow that from the present-day Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd), one can see the bottom of the riverbed with the naked eye.

Walking from St. Gellért Square, the ruins of the historic Franz Joseph Bridge come into view at the first pier.

Inaugurated in 1896, the bridge was Budapest’s third road bridge. In January 1945—not even 50 years after its opening—it was blown up during World War II.

While most of the rubble on the Pest side was recovered after the war, the Buda half still lies at the bottom of the Danube to this day. The bridge was rebuilt as early as 1946 and reopened on August 20 under the name Liberty Bridge.