The European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism sent helicopters and firefighters to help Serbia fight a massive wildfire in a nature reserve in the northeast of the country, the head of the European Union mission to Belgrade said.
Serbia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism after struggling for weeks with a wildfire in Deliblatska Pescara, a unique landscape of dunes and woods about 80 km (50 miles) from Belgrade, as well as other blazes in the southwest.
“We stand with Serbia in protecting lives, livelihoods and the unique natural heritage of Deliblatska Sands,” Andreas Beckerath, Head of the EU mission to Belgrade, wrote on X.
Luka Causic, head of Serbia’s Department for Emergencies, said European aid includes four Black Hawk firefighting helicopters from Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It also includes 55 firefighters and 24 vehicles from Germany, and 69 firefighters and 15 vehicles from Romania.
One helicopter each from Romania and Slovakia joined firefighting efforts on Saturday (22 August), while two Czech helicopters are due to begin operations Sunday, Serbia’s Interior Ministry said.
Romanian firefighters and vehicles have also arrived in Bela Crkva, near the fire. A German team is expected to arrive on 24 August, it said.
Serbia is not an EU member but can access emergency assistance through the bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
This summer, Belgrade sent a firefighting helicopter and emergency response team to Spain to help combat wildfires after repeated blazes across Europe strained EU resources.
A Russian Emergencies Ministry IL-76P firefighting plane landed in the southern Serbian city of Nis on Wednesday to tackle the Deliblatska Pescara wildfire, which has destroyed thousands of hectares of pine forest since late July.
Causic said the situation was more stable on Saturday, but strong winds were expected, with protecting settlements and human lives remaining the priority.
Other major wildfires were also active in the rugged Stolovi mountain range in southwestern Serbia.
In neighbouring North Macedonia, a major wildfire was raging in the municipality of Strumica, south of Skopje. According to media reports, at least one house caught fire in the village of Sofilar.
Around 11,000 people joined a demonstration in Orléans on Saturday against the National Rally congress, according to the local prefecture....
Israeli forces have maintained a tight closure on Hebron in the occupied West Bank for a second day, with Palestinian media reporting home raids, m...
German police have detained a suspect after a major fire broke out at the historic Kehlsteinhaus, known as the “Eagle’s Nest&rdqu...
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
A powerful magnitude 7 earthquake has struck Tibet in southwestern China, killing 16 people and injuring 65, while forcing more than 12,000 residents to relocate as rescue teams respond to widespread aftershocks.
Around 11,000 people joined a demonstration in Orléans on Saturday against the National Rally congress, according to the local prefecture.
German police have detained a suspect after a major fire broke out at the historic Kehlsteinhaus, known as the “Eagle’s Nest”, a mountain retreat once used by senior Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler.
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured as strong winds and torrential rain brought down trees, cut power and disrupted transport across the island.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday dismissed accusations that Canada planned to interfere in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, saying he was disappointed by comments from the American ambassador.
Kenya has recorded a second death from Ebola, the health ministry said late on Friday, as the outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to spread across Africa.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment