State of natural disaster declared in Konjic over forest fires, international assistance requested

In the Konjic area, the fire near the settlements of Kanjina, Zivasnica and Brđani is spreading in several directions, and the situation is critical, according to the Operational Center of the Civil Protection Administration of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC).

Inaccessible terrain and high temperatures are making firefighting extremely difficult, while the fire destroyed several abandoned structures overnight.

All available forces have been deployed to fight the fire, including the Konjic Professional Firefighting Unit, the “Prenj” Forestry Firefighting Unit, the Neretvica Volunteer Firefighting Unit, firefighters from Hadzici and Tarcin, as well as dozens of local residents and hunters.

Firefighters have been on the ground since early morning to prevent the fire from spreading further toward populated areas.

In the municipality of Neum, the fire that has been active since Saturday, August 8, is spreading along two fronts. The front that approached houses in the village of Medjugorje dangerously close on Tuesday afternoon due to strong winds was brought under control at around 18:30. Firefighters from Capljina and Ravno also took part in the operation, along with two Air Tractor aircraft.

The second front, spreading toward Gornje Hrasno, remains active in inaccessible terrain but currently poses no threat to residential buildings.

In addition, another fire was reported near the settlement of Lastva in the Neum area on Tuesday evening, where grass and low vegetation were burning.

Besides the fires in Neum and Konjic, firefighters carried out around 20 interventions involving smaller fires in Mostar, Capljina, Stolac and Citluk over the past 24 hours.