Rhine water level near Dutch border sinks to new record low

The water level of the Rhine river at one of the benchmark measuring points near the Dutch border has decreased again, reaching a historic low of zero centimetres amid a period of extremely dry weather in many parts of Germany, reported dpa.

The measurement in the city of Emmerich is a decrease of 4 centimetres compared to Monday morning.

According to the waterways and shipping administrator GDWS, the previous low was in October 2018 when the lowest daily reading was 4 centimetres.

The water levels measured at benchmark points along the river are standardized readings that are not the same as the actual depth of the water.

On Monday, the channel at Emmerich was still almost 2 metres deep, which is deep enough for commercial shipping.