Fires Rage in Kladovo, Serbia; State of Emergency Declared in Affected Areas

A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kladovo, Serbia, as firefighters struggle to contain widespread fires that threaten several villages. The declaration covers Velesnica, Velika Kamenica, and Podvrška, where the fire continues to rage.

While a fire that previously engulfed the village of Rtkovo is now under control, the situation at other fire sites remains serious. The blazes have spread across a significant area, with initial estimates suggesting around 13 square kilometers have been affected. Firefighting units are actively engaged on the ground, working intensely to localize the fires and prevent further expansion.

Compounding the challenges, strong winds are reportedly hindering access to the most critical points of the fires, particularly in areas like the Deliblatska peščara. Similar conditions have been observed elsewhere in Serbia, with winds fanning flames overnight in Stolovi near Kraljevo, where multiple hotspots remain active.

The Serbian Emergency Situations Directorate is coordinating the response, but the difficult terrain and weather conditions present significant obstacles to extinguishing the fires. The full extent of the damage and the cause of the fires are still under investigation.