SARAJEVO, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- A forest fire that broke out in the "Drina" National Park a few days ago in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been raging, with the situation becoming increasingly alarming, Srebrenica Territorial Fire Unit said on Sunday.
The fire is threatening the village of Luka near the Srebrenica municipality, where residents are surrounded by thick smoke. Locals, using basic tools like rakes and shovels, are battling the fire as it moves uphill toward their village.
Helicopters from the regional helicopter service in the Republic of Srpska, one entity of BiH, have been deployed for the past two days, with additional support expected from the Armed Forces of BiH. However, as the terrain is difficult-to-reach area, ground efforts to contain the fire have proven challenging.
Heavy machinery has been dispatched to create firebreaks, and preparations for a potential evacuation are underway due to the worsening smoke conditions.
Local firefighters, forestry workers, and National Park staff are working together with residents to contain the fire. However, the fire is continuing to spread into inaccessible areas, leaving the situation critical. ■