BELGRADE, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited the wildfire-hit Deliblato Sands nature reserve on Sunday as firefighters continued efforts to contain a blaze that has affected more than 3,500 hectares of the protected area.
The wildfire has been burning since Aug. 5, according to the public company Vojvodinasume, which manages the reserve. The situation has improved significantly compared with previous days, but firefighting operations are continuing amid strong and changing winds. As of Saturday evening, 485 personnel from various services, 33 machines and five helicopters were involved in the operation, according to Serbian emergency authorities.
Vucic flew over the fire-hit area by helicopter before meeting firefighters and other personnel involved in the operation. Vucic said the scale of damage to vegetation and forests was large but smaller than he had expected, adding that civilians had not been endangered at any point. He thanked firefighters and other personnel involved in the operation for their efforts to protect people, homes and property.
Vucic said he would honor many of the firefighters who took part in the operation. He also said authorities should assess what could have been done better and what additional resources were needed after the firefighting operation is completed.
Vucic said that 492 tons of water had so far been dropped on the fire by aircraft, describing the figure as an indication of the severity of the blaze.
The wildfire has also prompted international assistance. A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 firefighting aircraft has been involved in the operation, while international firefighting teams and aircraft from several European countries have joined the effort through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The firefighting operation continues as authorities monitor the fire-hit area and weather conditions that could affect the spread of the blaze.
The Deliblato Sands is the largest continental sandy terrain in Europe, covering about 35,000 hectares in the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain in Vojvodina, northern Serbia, and is known for its extensive sand dunes, forests and diverse plant and animal life. ■