EU, Russian aircraft help Serbia battle wildfires

EU crews and a Russian aircraft help Serbia fight major wildfires as extreme heat and drought fuel fires across the Balkans.Helicopters and firefighters from European Union countries, including crews from the Czech Republic and Romania, are working alongside Serbian teams to contain a large wildfire that has been burning for weeks in Deliblatska Pescara, a protected nature reserve near the capital, Belgrade, according to state media.The operation continued into Monday as Serbia’s RTS reported that a separate fire in the southwestern Stolovi mountain range had been brought under control, with help from a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 water-bombing aircraft.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Serbia requests international assistance to battle wildfireslist 2 of 3A year after student protests shook Valjevo: Serbia at a crossroadslist 3 of 3At least 12 people killed in Hungary bus crashend of listRTS said 168 tonnes of water have been dropped on the two fires — 126 tonnes in Deliblatska Pescara and 42 in Stolovi.Serbia’s Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, described the situation as “extremely difficult,” according to Euro News, with more than 400 personnel deployed to the area each day.President Aleksandar Vucic said Belgrade had turned to both the EU and Russia once it became clear Serbia’s own resources were not enough.“The very second we realised that our own forces were no longer sufficient, we immediately requested urgent assistance from Russia and the European mechanism,” he said.Serbia is not an EU member but can request aid under the bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism, a system that allows EU countries to pool emergency resources for disasters. The Serbs formally asked for help on Friday.The EU response includes four Black Hawk helicopters from Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, along with teams of firefighters and vehicles from Germany and Romania.