ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Balkan countries on Wednesday battled wildfires fueled by high temperatures, winds and a weeks-long drought, with firefighters in Croatia saying the toughest day so far this season is behind them. while North Macedonia’s emergency chief suggests the country should seek assistance from NATO.
The Croatian Firefighters Association described the last 24 hours as the most demanding this summer, with more than 100 interventions involving more than 1,000 firefighters and 20 firefighting planes.
Meanwhile, in North Macedonia, a total of 66 forest fires were recorded in the last 24 hours, local authorities said on Wednesday, prompting calls for assistance from the international community.
The most serious incident in Croatia overnight occurred near the small town of Tucepi, along the country’s southern coast, where a firefighter was injured. A strong wind that blew throughout the night made it more difficult to fight the violent fire that spread for several kilometers.
Croatian state broadcaster HRT said residents in the area spent a sleepless night, some had to evacuate their homes as power supplies were cut and several explosions could be heard, apparently from gas cylinders. Photos from the scene showed a burning skyline and firefighting planes flying overhead.
Local official Ante Cobanic said he tried to help extinguish a small fire before it suddenly spread within five minutes. “The speed was incredible,” he said.
The fire was brought under control mid-morning on Wednesday, with all emergency forces still on alert.
Further north, near the town of Sibenik, firefighters fought to prevent the fire from reaching Krka National Park, a major tourist destination and nature reserve known for its stunning waterfalls. The park remained open to visitors on Wednesday and thanked firefighters and residents for helping to defend it.
Successive heatwaves have helped spark fires in the Balkan region and other parts of southern Europe at the height of the summer tourist season. Countries such as North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania have looked abroad for help.
The head of North Macedonia’s emergency center, Stojanche Angelov, said that if the situation worsens further, the government should ask NATO for help, having sought assistance from the European Union on Tuesday.
“At this time there is no need, but assistance may be needed today,” Angelov said.
Massive forest fires in parts of North Macedonia this week destroyed and damaged homes, forced evacuations and claimed the life of an elderly resident in a village about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital Skopje.
A fire hit Greece, where two air tankers and a helicopter helped firefighters prevent the flames from reaching a forest on the Greek shores of Lake Doiran, which is shared by the two countries.
Experts say human-induced climate change has brought violent weather shifts, storms and increasingly unpredictable heat waves.
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Testorides reported in North Macedonia.
