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Weather, heat, storms, environmental risks, and their practical effects.
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A fire at several sites in the Ibar gorge between Ušće and Maglič is in its second day. N1 reports that it has reached conifer forest and that inaccessible terrain is hindering firefighting; Danas relays an initial estimate of about 80 hectares of pine forest plus 70 hectares of dry grass and low vegetation, with an Interior Ministry helicopter deployed.
The Deliblatska Sands fire, initially assessed at more than 300 hectares on 5 August, led to the evacuation of Čardak and Šumarak and an emergency declaration in part of Kovin municipality by 6 August. On 7 August, after easing in the morning, it reignited towards Šušara and part of the Čardak recreation-centre facilities burned. The preliminary estimate of about 2,500 hectares remains unfinalised.
N1 reports that 5 and 6 August will be the heat-wave peak: Serbia is expected to reach 35–40°C, with up to 40°C in Bačka, northern Banat and northern Srem. The highest heat alert applies across most of the country; a modest cooldown and local thunderstorms are forecast from Friday.
Residents of Rakovac near Novi Sad told 021 that they have been without water in the evenings for several days. JKP Beočin attributed the interruptions to extremely low water levels at sources and wells plus higher consumption, and plans to bring a third new well online in early September. The outlet reports that, according to the utility, its outage notice was published only on Facebook.
The Mining and Energy Ministry says that weeks of low Danube levels are keeping fuel-supply conditions difficult. NIS expects to raise crude processing in the second half of August, once already ordered deliveries arrive, from about 9,500 to about 13,000 tonnes a day. The authorities also plan to allow the company to make about 23,000 tonnes of operational reserves available to other oil companies; imports of about 20,000 tonnes of diesel by water remain uncertain.
The provincial emergency headquarters has banned users from drawing water from the Danube–Tisa–Danube system in the South Bačka, North Bačka and West Bačka districts. N1 says the level at the Bezdan 2 pumping station reached −164 cm on 3 August and RHMZ expects a further fall; 021 also reports that four vessels ran aground near Bogojevo and Bezdan, with crews safe.
