BELGRADE, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Montenegrin soldier was killed and another seriously injured when a water tanker overturned during firefighting operations in the Kuci region of Montenegro, the country's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. Wildfires are sweeping through multiple regions of the country amid extreme heat and strong winds.
The accident happened while the crew worked to contain blazes that broke out Monday on the outskirts of the capital Podgorica, along the Adriatic coast in Buljarica and Canj, and in several inland municipalities.
Montenegro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said the scale of the fires had exceeded national capacities, prompting the country to seek help from European partners. Austria is sending more than 100 personnel, while Croatia has deployed a water-bombing aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic welcomed the speed at which help arrived, calling it a sign of solidarity.
Authorities said they had identified six suspects in separate cases of fires being deliberately started in recent weeks. Drones and helicopters are being used for aerial monitoring, with police pledging "strict measures" against anyone found responsible. Spajic called for tougher penalties for arson.
Zlatko Micanovic, head of the Operational Communications Centre at the Montenegrin Civil Protection Directorate, said he expected all major fires to be brought under control by the end of the day through combined air and ground operations.
Local companies, residents and hotel operators have been providing food, water and equipment to exhausted firefighting teams. According to the Montenegrin Defense Ministry, 170 army personnel, five firefighting vehicles and two helicopters were deployed nationwide on Monday, with aerial units dropping more than 500,000 liters of water over the past month. Efforts will continue until all blazes are fully contained. ■
