Serbia is grappling with hundreds of wildfires that have ravaged central and southern parts of the country in recent days, destroying homes, farmland and livestock, and prompting an urgent relief effort from authorities and volunteers.
Officials said at least four civilians and two firefighters sustained minor injuries but there have been no reported fatalities. The government has allocated three million euros in emergency funds and formed a commission to assess the damage.
Local media report that in the village of Dubovo alone, nearly 300 houses have been reduced to ashes. Images show residents using buckets and makeshift tools to protect their properties as flames engulf fields and homes.
Interior Minister Ivica Dačić confirmed that more than 600 active fires were recorded across Serbia, with over 1,200 emergency calls in 24 hours in some districts. He urged citizens to remain vigilant as high temperatures and dry conditions fuel the blazes.
Despite rain and thunderstorms that helped firefighters bring some areas under control, the Toplica district remains among the hardest hit. Reports from the field describe entire families left without shelter, while local authorities face accusations of selective firefighting in politically sensitive areas — claims which the Interior Ministry has denied.
The crisis has triggered a wave of solidarity. Students across Serbia have suspended protests and instead launched donation drives, collecting food, medicine, blankets and firefighting equipment. In Niš, student groups are organizing drop-off points and volunteering in the affected villages.
Prominent figures, including singer Marija Šerifović, have pledged donations. “We will donate two million,” Šerifović announced in an urgent statement.
Meanwhile, some local residents accuse officials of neglecting certain villages. Opposition parties have called for accountability, alleging that firefighting units prioritized properties owned by government officials.
Rescue teams continue to work around the clock, backed by volunteers and, where possible, the military and police. Authorities have appealed for calm and cooperation as the full scale of the damage is still being assessed.