Key facts
- Serbia is battling multiple wildfires, including a major blaze near the Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve.
- Authorities have deployed helicopters and the army to assist firefighters.
Serbia is struggling to contain multiple wildfires fueled by extreme heat and drought, with firefighters using helicopters and the army to combat blazes near protected nature reserves and towns. Neighboring countries like Montenegro are also experiencing fires, while the heat wave has broken temperature records across Europe and strained energy systems due to low river levels.
The wildfires and extreme heat pose immediate risks to Serbian communities and ecosystems, while the broader European heat wave highlights the growing threat of climate change to energy security and infrastructure across the continent.
Serbia is grappling with a significant wildfire crisis, with authorities racing to contain multiple blazes across the country amid a severe heat wave and prolonged drought gripping the Balkan region. Thick smoke has been observed over affected areas, and firefighters, supported by helicopters and the army, are working to control fires, including one sweeping through pine forests near the protected Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve and another near Kraljevo.
In response to the escalating situation, Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the army had been brought in to aid emergency efforts, and state companies were urged to provide resources. While nine wildfires were reported, Dacic described the situation as "not critical." Firefighters were also tackling blazes in neighboring Montenegro.
The extreme weather event has seen record-breaking temperatures across Europe, with Slovakia and Austria registering all-time highs. This prolonged heat and drought have led to critically low water levels in major European rivers like the Danube and Rhine, impacting energy infrastructure. Romania is sinking barges to ensure cooling water for its Cernavoda nuclear plant, and Hungary has reduced output at its sole nuclear facility due to low Danube levels, prompting calls for electricity conservation. Prime Minister Péter Magyar of Hungary announced the suspension of energy-saving measures following a slight increase in water levels, crediting national cooperation for preserving energy security, though he cautioned that dry weather could lead to further drops.