# Uborak landfill fire persists amid regional heatwave > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/southern-european-municipal-waste-dumping-crises > Updated: 2026-08-03T17:03:22.000Z. Sources: 97. Developments: 17. The Uborak municipal waste landfill near Mostar continues to smolder. A three‑person firefighting team remains on site, and on 3 August additional crews were dispatched after the fire reignited at 21:54. Soil‑sampling ordered by Mayor Mario Kordić proceeds: the Federal Institute for Agropedology collected 30 samples on 15 July and laboratory analysis is ongoing, with long‑term monitoring planned for six to twelve months. Waste‑transfer operations have largely resumed via alternative sites, and demolition of the burned storage hall and a five‑year closure and revitalisation programme remain in place. The heatwave sweeping the Balkans has intensified fire risk across the region. Throughout early August, forest and grassland fires erupted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Greece and other Central‑European states. In Bosnia, a five‑hectare blaze in Kladanj was reignited by strong winds. Serbia’s Deliblatska peščara fire spread over 200 ha, while a nearby grass fire threatened a closed uranium mine. Croatia reported nearly 49 ha burned and has introduced strict penalties for open‑fire violations, echoing earlier criminal‑offence upgrades. Helicopters, air‑tankers, bulldozers and hundreds of firefighters are being deployed region‑wide, stretching resources already committed to the Uborak site and underscoring the ongoing environmental and public‑safety challenges. ## Claims - In Serbia, the Deliblatska peščara fire spread over more than 200 hectares, required H145, H215 Super Puma and Kamov Ka‑32 helicopters, and injured a forest worker. (corroborated by 3 sources) - A fire started on Monday at 21:54 at the Uborak landfill near Mostar. (corroborated by 2 sources) - One team of three firefighters is monitoring the Uborak landfill fire site. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A larger fire affected the Uborak landfill in early July. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Federal Institute for Agropedology collected 30 soil samples on 15 July from the Uborak site. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Laboratory analysis of the soil samples is ongoing. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Long‑term monitoring of the Uborak site is planned for six to twelve months after the fire. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A fire near Zaječar in Serbia burned about 100 hectares of dry grass, endangering a closed uranium mine that was protected by a Kamov Ka‑32 helicopter. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Mayor Maria Kordić ordered the soil sampling to assess fire impact at Uborak. (single source) - Wind‑direction data from the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute were used to select sampling sites at Uborak. (single source) - Serbian fire chief Bojan Jagodić warned that about 90 % of fires are caused by human negligence and that a heat wave will increase fire risk. (single source) - Albanian interior minister Besfort Lamaralli said the fire near Delvine and Finic is critical and urged residents to follow safety instructions. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Balkans battle widespread forest fires amid extreme heat Heat wave fuels forest fires across the Balkans, burning hundreds of hectares, prompting massive firefighting deployments and new open‑fire penalties. 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uborak-landfill-fire-near-mostar-remains-active ### 2026-07-24: Mostar mufti denounces political violence and Bosniak discrimination over landfill dispute Mostar mufti Dr. Salem‑ef. Dedović condemned political violence, Bosniak discrimination, warned about health risks from the Uborak landfill, and criticised the dismissal of 22 Bosniak municipal workers. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-mufti-denounces-political-violence-and-bosniak-discrimination-over-landfill-dispute ### 2026-07-20: Mostar Launches New Waste Sorting Initiative to Boost Recycling Mostar starts a URBACT‑backed pilot to improve waste sorting, featuring citizen surveys, educational outreach and child workshops under the slogan “Separate. Recycle. Inspire.” 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-launches-new-waste-sorting-initiative-to-boost-recycling ### 2026-07-20: JP Komunalno Mostar fires 18 workers after Uborak landfill fire JP Komunalno Mostar dismissed 18 workers, including fire‑fighter Jasmin Pendić, after the Uborak landfill blaze; the union calls the firings illegal and plans legal action. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jp-komunalno-mostar-fires-18-workers-after-uborak-landfill-fire ### 2026-07-13: Bosnia-Herzegovina forest and landfill fires trigger criminal investigations Forest fire in Humilišani and Uborak landfill blaze in Bosnia spark criminal probes, evacuations and emergency responses. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zeniko-dobojski-canton-deploys-airbus-as350-helicopter-to-extinguish-maglaj-fire ### 2026-07-13: Mayor Kordić presents five‑year plan to close and revitalize Mostar’s Uborak landfill Mostar’s mayor outlined a five‑year plan to seal, clean and repurpose the fire‑damaged Uborak landfill, urging council support amid criticism of political exploitation. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uborak-landfill-fire-in-mostar-prompts-political-scrutiny-and-cleanup-efforts ### 2026-07-09: Mostar Council Moves to Close Uborku Landfill Amid Legal Delays Mostar’s council approved steps to close the Uborku landfill, confronting repeated arson, legal hurdles and a need for a new waste‑management plan. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-council-moves-to-close-uborku-landfill-amid-legal-delays ### 2026-07-07: Mayor Mario Kordić addresses repeated fires at Mostar waste depot Mostar mayor Mario Kordić says a recent fire hit a legal municipal waste depot, warns of possible sabotage, and outlines accelerated cleanup amid political and procedural hurdles. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mayor-mario-kordi-addresses-repeated-fires-at-mostar-waste-depot ### 2026-06-29: Mostar waste fire and Split port dispute raise environmental alarms in the Balkans Mostar tackles a landfill fire and waste‑transfer issues while Split faces a missing environmental study for its North port; Brčko deals with a water‑pipe burst and Podgorica urges water savings. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-and-podgorica-tackle-municipal-waste-and-water-challenges ### 2026-06-27: Mostar waste‑fire crisis sparks health and political concerns A fire at Mostar’s landfill has released toxic smoke, raising health risks and reviving political disputes over waste management and the need for a modern incinerator. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-wastefire-crisis-sparks-health-and-political-concerns ### 2026-06-26: Mostar stabilizes waste removal after Ubork landfill fire Mostar’s Ubork landfill fire is now under control; waste collection resumed via four sites, evacuation lifted, tourism hit, and health agencies urge extra food‑hygiene measures. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-waste-fire-sparks-foodsafety-warnings-in-bosnia ### 2026-06-23: Mostar faces waste crisis as landfill fire blocks trash transport A fire at Mostar’s Uborak landfill has prompted emergency measures while the mayor warns an ecological and health crisis could worsen unless blocked waste‑transport sites are cleared; about 500 t of trash stay, 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-faces-waste-crisis-as-landfill-fire-blocks-trash-transport ### 2026-06-23: Mostar landfill blaze prompts evacuations and sabotage claim A fire at Mostar’s Uborak landfill spread to a tyre pile, prompting evacuations, unhealthy air quality and a mayor’s claim it was deliberately set; firefighters contained the blaze after 24 hours. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-landfill-fire-brought-under-control-after-multiday-blaze ### 2026-06-23: Fire at Uborak landfill in Mostar triggers emergency response and aid A June fire at Mostar’s Uborak landfill sparked a state of emergency, health warnings and a 300,000 KM aid package, while rescuing an injured cat. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fire-at-uborak-dump-in-mostar-triggers-emergency-response-in-bosnia ### 2026-06-22: Mostar Uborak landfill fire forces evacuations and emergency response A repeat fire at the Uborak landfill near Mostar forced evacuations, sparked a 300,000 KM emergency aid package, and prompted officials to allege arson amid hazardous air‑quality warnings. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uborak-landfill-fire-in-mostar-brought-under-control-cleanup-continues ### 2026-06-22: Mostar landfill blaze triggers emergency measures A fire at Mostar’s Uborak landfill caused extensive damage and toxic smoke, prompting an emergency state, evacuation warnings and a multi‑agency response, with air‑quality reaching hazardous levels. 33 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-declares-emergency-after-massive-uborak-dump-fire ### 2026-06-10: Mostar waste crisis escalates as illegal dumping overwhelms city Mostar's waste crisis deepens with illegal dumping, overflowing containers and hazardous conditions for municipal workers amid political disputes, risking a full service collapse. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mostar-waste-crisis-escalates-as-illegal-dumping-overwhelms-city --- Cite as: Uborak landfill fire persists amid regional heatwave. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/southern-european-municipal-waste-dumping-crises