Rhine Could Split in Two as Water Levels Drop, Shipping Warns

Germany’s inland shipping association has issued a warning that the Rhine River may soon become effectively divided into two separate sections, as water levels continue to fall. The decline threatens to sever a key freight route that carries vital goods across the country. The warning comes amid ongoing dry conditions that have reduced the river’s depth, making navigation difficult for cargo vessels. If levels drop further, shipping could be halted on major stretches, disrupting supply chains that rely on the waterway for transporting coal, chemicals, and other industrial materials. Separately, in Berlin, a man was shot dead near a busy central transport hub. Police have not yet released further details, and an investigation is underway. Both events highlight growing pressures on infrastructure and public safety in Germany, though no direct connection between them has been reported.