Balkan Forest Fires
3 August 2007
Thelatest satellite images (MODIS) showreduced fire activity in the Balkan region:
TERRA satellite 2 August 2007 10:14 UTC
Source: DLR / MODIS
TERRA satellite 2 August 2007 08:37 UTC
Source: DLR / MODIS
Due to decreasing temperatures and local rainfall the situationhas eased significantly in most regions. However, it is expected that many firesmay flare up again when the rains do not continue for a longer period!
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew the request for international assistence.
Albania
The situation has calmed down since the 1 August in some regions. However,numerous fires are not yet under control. Active fires are still to becontrolled in Puké, The Valbona valley, Tropoja, Bulqizé, Mirdité, Sotriraand Gjirokastér.Equipment for fire fighting was received from Czech Republicand Austria and additionally an air tanker from Ukraine is deployed to Lezhè
Macedonia
The fire situation has eased slightly due to the changing fire weather. Mostfires are controlled by now. According to officials in Macedonia there areproblems with unexploded ammunition from WW I in the mountains, where minorexplosions happened due to the high temperatures.
Five helicopters are deployed for fire fighting, mainly thefollowing regions are concerned: Skopje, Makedonski Brod, Veles, Kicveo andKocaniD
The wildfire is still burning in Jasen, where 90 soldiers arebattling to contain the blaze according to Crisis Management Center on Friday. Amassive wildfire rages across Belasica mountain – on the junction betweenMacedonia, Bulgaria and Greece.A fire broke out near Prilep’s village of Rakle,scorching dry grass and woodland. The wildfire that started in Bitola areaspilled over to Beluce mine in quite inaccessible terrain, consuming forest andrangeland.
Fordocumentation of the fires in the Balkan region and neighbouring South Europeancountries see:
Seealso the GFMC Media page:
