Kathmandu— Major wildfires are raging across Serbia and neighboring Balkan countries, prompting international aid requests and a large-scale firefighting effort involving crews and equipment from the European Union and Russia. The fires, exacerbated by an unusually hot and dry summer, have threatened protected nature reserves, damaged homes, and disrupted travel throughout the region. Serbian authorities formally requested assistance on Friday after determining their own resources were insufficient to contain the blazes, with aid arriving over the weekend and continuing into Monday.

International Response Mobilizes

Serbia is utilizing the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism – despite not being an EU member – to receive support from several European nations. The response includes four Black Hawk helicopters dispatched from Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, alongside firefighting teams and vehicles from Germany and Romania. President Aleksandar Vucic stated that Belgrade sought help from both the EU and Russia when it became clear domestic resources were stretched too thin. Serbia previously offered assistance to Spain earlier in the wildfire season, sending a helicopter and team when fires there strained European resources.

Fires Rage Across Key Areas

A large fire has been burning for weeks in Deliblatska Pescara, a protected nature reserve near Belgrade, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain it. As of Monday, state media reported that 168 tonnes of water had been dropped on the two primary fires – 126 tonnes at Deliblatska Pescara and 42 tonnes in the Stolovi mountain range. A separate fire in the southwestern Stolovi range was brought under control with assistance from a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 water-bombing aircraft. Serbia’s Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, described the situation as “extremely difficult,” noting that over 400 personnel are deployed daily to combat the fires.

Regional Impact and Challenges

The wildfires aren't limited to Serbian territory; blazes are also burning in North Macedonia, damaging at least one home near Strumica. Strong winds have hampered firefighting efforts across the region, as Ljubce Ivanski, a farmer near one fire, described how they overwhelmed planes and helicopters. A large fire between Bosnia and Croatia forced the closure of a major road linking Trebinje to Dubrovnik, stranding thousands of travelers and prompting evacuations.

Firefighting operations are ongoing across Serbia and neighboring countries as authorities continue to battle the widespread blazes and assess the full extent of the damage.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.