A significant fire has been ongoing in the Deliblatska Pescara forest reserve, situated approximately 60 km east of Belgrade, since the start of August. The intensity of the situation escalated on Thursday when temperatures reached 39 degrees Celsius in parts of the country. On that day, the state broadcaster RTS reported that a small village near the reserve’s perimeter was evacuated due to strong winds driving the flames toward residential areas.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the overall situation remained difficult, although he confirmed that no damage had been reported at the time. Amid the worsening conditions, a “Il-76” aircraft originating from Moscow arrived in Belgrade on Wednesday evening, following a request from the city. This mobilization was prompted by a returning heat wave across the Balkans, which has resulted in numerous fires throughout the region.
An AFP journalist observed on Thursday afternoon the arrival of a Russian firefighting plane, capable of carrying 42 tonnes, as it was airlifted into the Balkans to assist with extinguishing the widespread fires. The deployment of such resources underscores the severity of the ongoing fire threat within the forest reserve. Authorities are managing the difficult situation while responding to the extreme weather conditions impacting the area.
Topics: #reserve #fire #situation
