Rhine River could fall below critical mark, risking industry

By DANIEL NIEMANN and FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — German officials say water levels on the Rhine River could reach a critically low point in the coming days, making the transport of goods along the river increasingly difficult. Weeks of dry weather have turned several of Europe’s major waterways into trickles, posing a headache for German factories and power plants that rely on deliveries by ship and making an economic slowdown ever more likely. Authorities predict water levels at the town of Kaub will dip below 16 inches early Friday and keep falling over the weekend. While this is higher than the record low seen in October 2018, many large ships could struggle to safely pass the river at that point.