SARAJEVO, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires continue to burn in several areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with firefighters struggling to contain multiple blazes near southern BiH's Trebinje and Mostar.
Authorities in Trebinje said on Tuesday that the wildfire near the village of Dobromani remains active, with flames approaching populated areas. A helicopter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of BiH, has been deployed to assist, but the rugged terrain is complicating ground efforts. The priority remains the protection of local homes.
Meanwhile, a separate wildfire broke out in Mostar's mountainous areas on Sunday, blanketing the area in smoke. Firefighters battled the flames for three consecutive days, aided by aerial support.
Local fire services confirmed that the fire is now under control, but teams remain on the ground, monitoring the situation. The helicopter of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina has returned to base.
Authorities suspect the fire was caused by human negligence. The blaze caused significant damage to the telecom infrastructure. A container housing an internet transmitter was destroyed, and nearly all equipment belonging to certain local radio and internet providers was lost.
In a separate incident, police in northern BiH's Teslic municipality confirmed the death of an old man after a fire broke out on his property. Preliminary findings suggest he was attempting to burn weeds when the fire got out of control.
Authorities have warned of legal penalties for fire safety violations as investigations into suspected arson continue. ■
