Authorities estimate that several hundred liters of oil may have entered the Danube River.
Oil Leak from Refinery Sparks Environmental Alert
On Monday evening, a significant volume of oil escaped from a wastewater pipe at the Bayernoil refinery in Neustadt an der Donau, located in the Kelheim district. According to the head of the Water Management Office in Landshut, the intense and foul odor at the scene suggested the substance was likely aged heavy fuel oil—possibly residue from older deposits within the pipeline system.
Boats and Drones Deployed to Assess Situation
Emergency crews immediately launched an investigation on Monday night, using both boats and drones to inspect the affected area. So far, officials have found no clear evidence of environmental damage.
Up to 1,000 Liters of Oil Estimated to Have Leaked
The fire department estimates that between 500 and 1,000 liters of oil may have entered the river. Around 8 p.m., rescue teams conducting a routine exercise on the Danube spotted an oil sheen on the surface, triggering an immediate large-scale response. By nightfall, about 90 personnel from the fire department, technical relief agency (THW), water rescue services (Wasserwacht and DLRG), and paramedics were deployed to the scene. Within 30 minutes of discovering the spill, all refinery outlets leading into the Danube were proactively shut off.
Efforts to Contain Spill with Barriers Hindered by River Conditions
Emergency management teams initially attempted to deploy an oil containment boom roughly five kilometers downstream in the Neustadt district of Eining. However, the fast current and the presence of groynes—structures used to control river flow—made this impossible. According to a spokesperson from the Kelheim district authority, the risk to responders was deemed too high to proceed with deployment at that location.
An alternative containment site about 24 kilometers downstream in Poikam, a district of Bad Abbach, was also considered. But by 11 p.m., no visible oil traces remained at that location. Officials from the Water Management Office stated that the oil had likely dispersed and diluted to the point of being undetectable in the river.
Ongoing Monitoring of Danube Water Quality
Despite the lack of visible oil, monitoring operations along the Danube continued on Tuesday. The Water Management Office confirmed that measurements were still being taken to track any potential contamination. The exact cause of the leak remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
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