WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Montenegro has been battling a fiery disaster for the eighth consecutive day, with the most difficult situation in Kuči and Piperi.
Last night, fires reactivated in the Piperi villages of Seoca and Stijena, but according to Radomir Šćepanović from the Directorate for Emergency Management, speaking to RTCG, the situation is under control this morning and no houses are endangered. All firefighting teams, assisted by the Army and international forces, are on the ground.
Fires are active in Nikšić and Bijelo Polje as well.
The head of the 112 Operational Communication Center of the Directorate for Emergency Management, Zlatko Mićanović, said that the situation today is more favorable than yesterday.
Mićanović stated that forest fires are currently active in several locations in Podgorica, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Šavnik, and Bijelo Polje.
He emphasized that the most firefighting units are engaged in Podgorica.
He noted that there have been cases where citizens falsely reported that their houses were on fire, asking that this no longer happen and that everyone instead act preventively by cleaning up their yards. “That would reduce the risk of fire,” he said.
"Currently, no buildings are endangered, and the situation is much more favorable because there is no strong wind," he stated.
Montenegro’s aircraft, he said, will be engaged in extinguishing fires in Piperi, and helicopters of the Ministry of Interior will be deployed in Kučka Korita.
When asked by a journalist whether it is true that helicopters from the United Arab Emirates, as announced by the Prime Minister, will arrive and be deployed in the coming days, Mićanović replied that they currently do not have that information.
"We have not received such information. We communicate through the mechanism, and there are other ways through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but whether such communication exists, I am not informed," Mićanović said.
The Vice President of the Capital City Assembly of Podgorica, Dragutin Vučinić, announced that the most endangered areas this morning are Stijensko Brdo, Gola Strana, and Ravni Laz on the western side of Stijena, as well as the area from Seoca to Kopilje.
"The last two locations are areas of yesterday's extinguished fires that were reignited by this morning's wind," said Vučinić.
He appealed for helicopter or Canadair intervention to extinguish everything. "Only then will locals and volunteers be able to enter and extinguish the fire with backpack sprayers," he said.
Active fires are still present in Bijelo Polje, while the firestorm in Danilovgrad and Nikšić is being fought from the air. A fire is also active near Bioče.
Firefighters were on duty all night in the field to prevent the spread of the fire, and this morning the situation is calm, with no endangered houses or buildings.
Last night, a fire broke out in Stijena Piperska, and the fire spread rapidly toward houses. The northern wind worsened the situation, pushing the fire toward the settlement.
