Storms and fires hit Balkan countries following a period of extreme summer heat
A brief but powerful storm hit Croatia's Adriatic Sea port of Split on Tuesday morning. High winds and hail damaged the roof of the city's soccer stadium and caused a ferry to slip its moorings at the port, which then hit two other vessels, one of which sank. At least three people were injured in the storm, and material damage across the city was huge. Photos carried by Croatian media showed downed trees and flooded streets. The Index news portal said that offices and the pitch itself at Split's Poljud stadium were damaged, as well as the roof. The report quoted the Split meteorological service as saying that such storms are usual after a long period of heat with extremely hot days.
Previously, Croatia and the rest of the Balkans experienced a heat wave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and more. Meteorologists said the storms prefigured cooler days ahead, with temperatures set to drop to around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. The weather service in neighboring Slovenia said on Tuesday that snow fell at high altitudes in the Alps, while the rest of the country has been pounded with heavy rain and hail.
In Serbia, firefighters battled more than 600 wildfires on Monday that injured six people. Serbia has been hit by a severe drought this summer that has endangered crops and led to restrictions in supplies of drinking water throughout the country. Serbian police, late on Monday, urged residents to be very cautious, as dry and hot weather increases chances of wildfires. At least three municipalities in southern parts of the country declared emergency measures due to the fires. 'Many villages were jeopardized. We have a number of burnt and damaged properties, but we have managed to save many, too,' senior emergency official Nedeljko Gagic told state-run RTS television.
Serbia's meteorological institute has also warned of low water levels on the two biggest rivers in the country – the Danube and the Sava – as well as smaller ones. Experts say that extreme weather conditions can be linked to climate change. Extremely hot weather and wildfires were reported throughout Europe in early July.
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