Tragedy on the Danube: Boat Carrying Chinese Nationals Capsizes on the Serbia–Croatia Border

A boat carrying 10 Chinese citizens and one Serbian national capsized on the Danube River near Bačka Palanka, Serbia.
According to the public broadcaster RTS, several people remain missing, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Local media report that the group was attempting to cross illegally into Croatia, an EU member state. The incident underscores the growing risks along the Balkan migration route, which continues to serve as a key corridor toward Western Europe.
Institute of Danube Research Comment:
“This tragedy highlights that the Danube is not only a transport artery but also an unspoken migration corridor of Europe.
The increasing number of illegal crossings — including from Asian countries — calls for enhanced cross-border coordination, early warning systems, and regional monitoring mechanisms between Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine.”