Montenegro: A dead soldier, another wounded in a fire extinguisher

A Montenegrin soldier has died and another has been seriously injured as a result of the overthrow of a motorist used to extinguish fires in the Kuka region near Podgorica, the defence ministry has announced.

According to authorities, the military, in co-operation with authorities, is conducting investigation into the incident.

The military, along with firefighters and police, is trying for the second consecutive day to extinguish the fires that have engulfed the area around Podgorica, as well as the regions between Budva and Tivar.

A house and property have also been burned down as a result of fires. Some residents are evacuated from their homes in the vicinity of Podgorica.

“The situation is a little more stable. We can't predict the situation, but we believe that by engaging in our services and with the help of our partners, we will have fires under”, said Miodrag Besovic, director of the Directorate for Protection and Salvation.

Because of smoke and contaminated air, the Institute for Public Health has recommended that citizens avoid external access.

Red alert is active in Montenegro, while the great wind is making it difficult to extinguish fires.

Authorities have indicated they are also accepting external assistance in trying to extinguish the fires.

A Canadian soldier from Croatia has arrived in Montenegro, under the aid provided by the European Union for Civil Protection Mechanism.

The government has activated the mechanism for international co-operation with NATO and the countries of the region, with the goal of accepting external assistance.

Austria will send 100 people with all fire extinguishers, Austrian authorities have said.

Italy will also send a plane to fight fires.

On 11 August, a seven-person helicopter arrived in Montenegro.

Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milljko Spajzic, has said police have signal that some of the fires are deliberately lit.

The “is very strange and suspicious of how fires are lit in completely different areas”, Spajzic said, citing the importance of stiffening penalties for intentional arson.

In the past two months, authorities have prosecuted six people for lighting fires in several Montenegrin cities.

Police have called on citizens to show care and maximum responsibility and to report if they see any attempts at firing fire.

Forest fires are facing other Balkan states, including Kosovo.

The Emergency Management Agency has said 11 August that 51 hotbeds have been registered, and 19 of them have been active until late hours of the night.

The worst situation has been recorded in Kamenica, Mitrovica and Podujevo.

Even this week, the Balkan region will face high temperatures, approaching 40 degrees Celsius. / REL/