Sarajevo air quality ranked worst in the world this morning

At 7:00 am, measurements indicated the presence of 460 PM2.5 harmful particles per cubic meter in the air over Sarajevo. This pollution level places the city’s air quality in the “hazardous” category, raising serious health concerns.

According to IQAir's data, Sarajevo has surpassed other heavily polluted cities such as Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), Delhi (India), and two cities in China.

Health Precautions Advised

Authorities advise extreme caution in such conditions, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses, heart and lung conditions, and other related health issues. Staying indoors is strongly recommended, especially for the elderly, pregnant women, and children. Outdoor activities should be limited to urgent needs only.

Flight Disruptions at Sarajevo Airport

N1 reached out to Sarajevo International Airport for updates on flights affected by the poor air quality and accompanying fog. Airport representatives confirmed that most scheduled flights were operating as planned, with a single exception.

“This morning, flights to Zagreb, Vienna, and Istanbul proceeded as scheduled. However, due to adverse weather conditions caused by fog, the flight from Gothenburg was redirected to Banja Luka,” the airport spokesperson stated.

Persistent air quality crisis

The issue of air pollution has become an ongoing concern in Sarajevo and other cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city’s unique geographic location, situated in a basin, exacerbates poor air circulation. Additionally, unchecked urban construction has further worsened air quality, as noted by numerous experts.

Despite years of promises from local authorities to implement meaningful measures to address air pollution, little progress has been made. Instead, residents are forced to rely on occasional strong winds or rainfall to temporarily clear the smog.