A rise in temperatures in Europe has melted ice on the Danube river, freeing up large chunks that have rapidly floated down the river, taking boats, docks, and pontoons with them. Parts of the river near Belgrade were hit the worst by the melting ice.

Serbia and other eastern European nations were hit especially hard by a recent cold snap. Ice buildup on the Danube outpaced icebreaking operations, and traffic on the Danube had to be stopped on February 8.

However, a warmer weekend that saw temperatures rise to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) caused the ice to rapidly melt and break away.

Efforts to pull boats from the water before the ice came were often futile, as the ice simply arrived too quickly. The ice snapped mooring lines and tore boats from their anchorages, leaving some stuck stranded on the shore.

The 1,729-mile (2,872-kilometer) Danube is part of a major European water transport corridor running through nine countries and linking the Black Sea with the North Sea via canals and the Rhine River.

mz/rc (AP, Reuters)