Montenegro: One soldier dead, another injured in firefighting efforts
NEWS
Express newspaper
12/08/2025 15:14
A Montenegrin soldier has died and another was seriously injured as a result of the overturning of a tanker truck being used to extinguish fires in the Kuca region near Podgorica, the Ministry of Defense has announced.
According to authorities, the military, in cooperation with the authorities, is conducting investigations into the incident.
The army, along with firefighters and police, is attempting for the second day in a row to extinguish the fires that have engulfed the area around Podgorica, as well as the regions between Budva and Tivat.
As a result of the fires, a house and several properties were also burned. Several residents were evacuated from their homes near Podgorica.
“The situation is a little more stable. We cannot predict the situation, but we believe that by engaging with our services and with the help of our partners, we will have the fires under control,” said Miodrag Beshovic, director general of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue.
Due to smoke and polluted air, the Institute for Public Health has recommended that citizens avoid going outdoors.
A red alert is active in Montenegro, while strong winds are making it difficult to extinguish the fires.
Authorities have announced that they are also accepting help from abroad in an effort to extinguish the fires.
A Canadian soldier from Croatia has arrived in Montenegro, as part of the assistance provided by the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
The government has activated the mechanism for international cooperation with NATO and regional countries, with the aim of receiving assistance from abroad.
Austria will send 100 people with all firefighting equipment, Austrian authorities have said.
Italy will also send a plane to fight the fires.
On August 11, a helicopter from Serbia arrived in Montenegro, carrying seven people.
The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajic, has said that police have signals that some of the fires were started intentionally.
“It is very strange and suspicious how the fires were lit in completely different areas,” Spajic said, mentioning the importance of toughening penalties for intentional arson.
In the last two months, authorities have prosecuted six people for setting fires in several Montenegrin cities.
The police have called on citizens to show maximum caution and responsibility and to report if they see any attempt to start a fire.
Other Balkan countries, including Kosovo, are facing forest fires.
The Emergency Management Agency said on August 11 that 51 fires had been registered and 19 of them were active until late at night.
The most serious situation has been recorded in Kamenica, Mitrovica and Podujevo.
This week, the Balkan region will face high temperatures, approaching 40 degrees Celsius. /REL/
