Wildfires that broke out in the Tjentište valley in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina have spread to the Sutjeska National Park, putting the centuries-old coniferous forest at risk, authorities said.
Around 150 hectares of forest and pasture in one of Bosnia’s oldest national parks were ablaze on Monday, according to the park’s director, Zoran Čančar.
By Tuesday, the fire had spread and could endanger the road between the nearby town of Foča and Gacko in the country’s south, according to domestic press.
Authorities have also warned that the wildfires pose a serious risk of ecological and material damage to the vast forest area.
“The situation is extremely difficult, especially with trees collapsing and spreading stones,” said Nijaz Imamović, president of the region’s fire department.
“Even after we extinguish the fire in some areas, we have to return within minutes because the steep terrain and canyons cause burning trees to reignite,” he added.
The Republika Srpska (RS) entity’s civil protection department requested help from the Bosnian Armed Forces to tackle the fire in Foča municipality.
Three helicopters were working to control the blaze, while choppers from Serbia were said to be on their way on Tuesday.
“We are hoping that the blaze could be under control in two days’ time, but it would be irresponsible to make any prognosis,” the RS entity’s mountain rescue service head, Nenad Ikonić, told the Bosnian outlet Klix.
Fires burning for a week
Meanwhile, in Albania, firefighters continued battling flames in the town of Finiq on Monday as fires raged in at least 11 remote mountainous areas.
Fire teams used helicopters and water hoses to try to contain the flames in the mountainous areas of the town, located 255 kilometres south of the capital city, Tirana.
Albania’s Defence Ministry reported that the flames in the Mali i Thatë or Dry Mountains, located along the eastern border with North Macedonia, have been burning for a week.
Many parts of Europe continue to experience exceptionally high temperatures in August, with some countries suffering more than others.
Italy, Greece, and parts of Albania and North Macedonia have experienced some of the most severe wildfires this summer.
