Most fires in Serbia extinguished or contained - Interior Ministry

BELGRADE - The Serbian Interior Ministry said on Wednesday the majority of fires in the country had been extinguished or contained and that the southern Toplica District was among those most under threat as the fires were spreading quickly on extremely rough terrain.

According to a post on the ministry's Instagram account, more than ten fire sites are still active and fire and rescue teams are on the ground round the clock.

Due to a lengthy drought and a large number of fires, emergency has been declared in the territories of the cities of Bor, Prokuplje and Kragujevac and in the Blace and Kursumlija municipalities, as well as in parts of the Mionica and Zitoradja municipalities.

"In spite of exhausting conditions, fire and rescue teams are on the ground every day, investing maximum efforts to keep the situation under control. With support from other services and local structures, they are working incessantly on containing and extinguishing the fires. Those who are not seeking applause, those who are tirelessly giving their all to protect our fellow citizens and their property - our firefighters - are where the situation is the most difficult," the ministry said.