Mostar faces waste crisis as landfill fire blocks trash transport

A fire broke out on the Uborak landfill in Mostar, prompting the declaration of a natural disaster and the involvement of fire services, air tractors and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to bring the blaze under control. While the fire is being managed, the city remains under emergency status and officials are conducting further testing for possible soil and water contamination.

Mayor Mario Kordić warned that the city is on the brink of a new ecological and health crisis unless the blocked waste‑transfer site is cleared. Approximately 120 tonnes of municipal waste are generated each day, with about 500 tonnes already stockpiled in the city. The blocked transfer point has forced the municipality to spend around 21,000 KM daily on transport, and Kordić is seeking alternative sites for waste handling while urging citizens to avoid the affected area and follow civil‑protection orders.