DistantNews
Support us
Deliblatska Peščara fire spreads toward Danube, engulfs hunting grounds
🇷🇸 Serbia /Disasters & Emergencies

Deliblatska Peščara fire spreads toward Danube, engulfs hunting grounds

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A fire in Serbia's Deliblatska Peščara nature reserve has spread towards the Danube River, reaching critical levels.
  • The fire has consumed over 3,500 hectares and forced the evacuation of residents and vacationers.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of clear instructions and coordination from authorities.

A significant fire in Serbia's Deliblatska Peščara nature reserve has intensified, spreading towards the Danube River and creating a critical situation in the Dubovac-Bela Crkva area. The blaze has already engulfed more than 3,500 hectares of land.

The fire, which had been on the left bank of the Danube when viewed from Kovin, has now managed to cross the main road and move towards the Danube, towards the Slatine weekend settlement.

— Violeta ŽivkovVioleta Živkov, editor at Kovinske Info, said the fire, which had been on the left bank of the Danube when viewed from Kovin, has now managed to cross the main road and move towards the Danube, towards the Slatine weekend settlement.

Violeta Živkov, editor at Kovinske Info, reported that the fire, previously contained to the left bank of the Danube from Kovin's perspective, has now crossed the main road and is moving towards the Danube and the Slatine weekend settlement. Residents and vacationers from the area have been evacuated, with some remaining to protect their properties as the fire encroached within a kilometer of some homes.

Footage has emerged showing the fire consuming hunting grounds within the reserve, which is home to an estimated 500 deer. One of the six observation towers in the area has been destroyed. Witnesses described animals fleeing in panic onto the roads, seeking escape. Živkov characterized the situation as "truly resembling a horror film" due to the unpredictable shifts in the fire's direction and the constant need to reallocate resources.

From that area, vacationers were previously evacuated yesterday, as well as people who have lived there for most of the year, and there is also a woman there who takes care of stray dogs. Some stayed to defend their properties as the fire spread to about a kilometer from some of those houses.

— Violeta ŽivkovShe added that from that area, vacationers were previously evacuated yesterday, as well as people who have lived there for most of the year, and there is also a woman there who takes care of stray dogs. Some stayed to defend their properties as the fire spread to about a kilometer from some of those houses.

Živkov also voiced criticism regarding the response, noting a lack of clear instructions from the coordinating staff. "The problem is that there are no clear instructions from the staff that should coordinate this action," she stated. "These are mostly warnings – be careful, be safe, contact us, but there is no one to contact... In this current situation, that is not enough."

The situation truly resembles a horror film with no foreseeable outcome or end, because the direction of the fire and the location where intervention with increased forces is needed are constantly changing.

— Violeta ŽivkovŽivkov explained that animals were seen coming out onto the road and wandering in a daze, reacting instinctively to save themselves, and that the situation truly resembles a horror film with no foreseeable outcome or end, because the direction of the fire and the location where intervention with increased forces is needed are constantly changing.

The fire's rapid spread and the perceived lack of effective coordination raise serious concerns for the ecological impact on the reserve and the safety of nearby communities. The ongoing uncertainty about the fire's path and the absence of decisive leadership in managing the crisis exacerbate the situation.

The problem is that there are no clear instructions from the staff that should coordinate this action. These are mostly warnings – be careful, be safe, contact us, but there is no one to contact... In this current situation, that is not enough.

— Violeta ŽivkovŽivkov also assessed that the fire has affected more than 3,500 hectares because it is a long stretch, and that the Dubovac - Bela Crkva stretch is currently the most endangered. She stated that since this morning there has been no official information on what citizens should do. "The problem is that there are no clear instructions from the staff that should coordinate this action. These are mostly warnings – be careful, be safe, contact us, but there is no one to contact... In this current situation, that is not enough," she points out.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog