The Serbian government has officially declared a natural disaster across five cities and eleven municipalities, following extensive damage caused by fires in July, as announced after a governmental session.

On July 7th, rampant fires swept through southern and central Serbia, resulting in the evacuation of numerous villages and the destruction of countless homes.

The statement from the government explained that the declaration came “in response to prolonged drought, extreme heat, and strong winds that resulted in significant fires in parts of Serbia, inflicting considerable damage.”

A natural disaster has been declared in the cities of Prokuplje, Kruševac, Čačak, Kragujevac, and Bor.

Additionally, the municipalities of Bojnik, Lebane, Ivanjica, Aleksinac, Rača, Knić, Žitorađa, Blace, Kuršumlija, Golubac, and Mionica are also affected.

The Serbian government has approved a regulation for state aid and reconstruction efforts for homes that were burned or damaged.

For this initiative, 350 million dinars (approximately three million euros) have been allocated from the budget during the previous day’s governmental session.

The regulation delineates the specific measures to be taken, including the criteria for assistance and the process for reporting and determining damage.

Financial aid from the state will range from 200 to 800 dinars for damaged homes.

Households with homes that were completely destroyed will be eligible for financial support between three and four million dinars.

‘Fires Under Control’

Serbian Police Assistant Director Dejan Luković reported on July 10 that the fires were “under absolute control.”

He noted that there had been over 800 fires across Serbia recently, with more than 3,300 individuals, including members of the Emergency Situations Sector, the Serbian Army, volunteer firefighting units, and citizens, engaged in firefighting efforts.

“The breadth of this operation is unprecedented, as such a volume of fires has never been documented in Serbia,” he stated to Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

He highlighted the need for more equipment for the Emergency Situations Sector, which operates under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and suggested that “additional personnel” should be recruited.

When questioned about potential arson, he indicated that the police have yet to find evidence of such acts, but ongoing investigations will examine this possibility, and any responsible parties will face prosecution.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić emphasized on July 10 that future investments in helicopters and other firefighting equipment are necessary.

He acknowledged that the situation had improved compared to previous days, with most fires extinguished and rainfall easing the workload for firefighters.

Assessments of the damage are still in progress.

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