A wildfire that has been burning for weeks through a vast nature reserve in northern Serbia forced the evacuation of a nearby hamlet on Thursday as temperatures soared to 39 degrees Celsius and emergency crews struggled to bring the blaze under control.
The fire has been ravaging the Deliblatska Peschara forest reserve, a protected area roughly 60 kilometres east of Belgrade, since early August. Strong winds on Thursday drove flames toward homes on the reserve’s edge, prompting authorities to evacuate a small settlement, state broadcaster RTS reported.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic confirmed the evacuation but said there had been no reports of structural damage so far. “The situation remains difficult,” he said, adding that few people truly grasp the seriousness of the situation due to the sandy terrain, extreme heat, and high temperatures.
Russian Waterbomber Deployed
Belgrade requested international assistance and a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 waterbombing aircraft arrived on Wednesday evening. The plane, capable of carrying 42,000 litres of water per pass, was seen dousing parts of the fire on Thursday afternoon as local residents watched. However, Dacic said even after multiple passes the fire remained dangerous.
The deployment highlights Serbia’s continued close ties with Moscow, even as much of Europe has sought to distance itself from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Serbia has maintained cordial relations with both Russia and the West throughout the conflict.
Warnings for extreme conditions have been issued across most of the Balkans as a return to sweltering heat sweeps the region. The heatwave is part of a broader pattern across Europe this summer, with high temperatures and tinder-dry conditions triggering wildfires from Greece to Belgium. Scientists attribute the increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves to human-caused climate change.
Continental Wildfire Season
Serbia’s fire comes amid a particularly severe wildfire season across Europe. Croatia reported at least 10 people in intensive care and thousands displaced by intense blazes, while authorities in eastern Belgium declared a major fire of the century had been brought under control earlier in August. EU civil protection authorities have mobilised aircraft and ground crews to support affected countries.
The Deliblatska Peschara reserve, sometimes called Europe’s largest sandfield, is home to rare plant and animal species. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the ecological toll of the prolonged fire, which has burned through vast tracts of forest and grassland over nearly three weeks.
Sources: Euronews; AP; RTS; Copernicus EMS
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