Vegetation fires cause widespread damage in Hungary and Serbia

Vegetation fires are causing unprecedented damage across Hungary and Serbia, driven by extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and dry vegetation.

In Hungary, researchers report that the frequency and destructive impact of fires have reached levels that current methods can no longer manage. Experts emphasize that climate change is making these events more frequent and suggest a shift from reactive firefighting to proactive landscape management, including better water retention and habitat care to prevent small sparks from becoming national disasters.

In Serbia, data from the Republic Statistical Office reveals that over 51,632 hectares of forest were destroyed by fires between 2006 and 2025. This includes approximately 27,700 hectares of private land and 23,400 hectares of state-owned forests. Recent significant activity includes the burning of over 1,500 hectares in the Deliblato Sands nature reserve. Ongoing firefighting efforts involving the military and local populations continue in regions such as the Stolovi Mountains, Polumir, Maglič, and near Gamzigrad.