A U.S. Embassy in southeastern Europe has issued an alert that a wildfire is burning a few miles north of its location, fanned by southerly winds.
The alarm was raised on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro at the nation’s capital Podgorica, and the warning said the blaze was engulfing the village of Piperi, close to the outskirts of the city, approximately five miles away.
It said: “The fire has produced a large plume of smoke that appears to be blowing southwest and may affect travel in that direction.”
Newsweek contacted the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro for comment via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
The alert came as wildfires and a heat wave struck parts of southern Europe, prompting evacuations, international firefighting assistance and several deaths reported across the region.
What To Know
The embassy advised avoiding the area in Montenegro until further notice and recommended monitoring local conditions and keeping windows closed.
The alert urged U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for updates and to consult the embassy website and Department of State social media for assistance.
Risto Bozovic/Associated Press
The fire in the Balkans country of Montenegro came amid a surge of blazes across Europe, including Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey. Reuters reported that temperatures rose above 40°C (104°F) in parts of the continent, and that authorities evacuated thousands and mobilized national and international resources to assist firefighting efforts.
Authorities in Montenegro, assisted by helicopters from fellow Balkans countries Serbia and Croatia, reported containing a wildfire near Podgorica on August 12, though smoke covered parts of the capital, the outlet said.
France 24 reported on Tuesday that firefighting in the hilly areas north of Podgorica had involved military crews and that a Montenegrin soldier died when a water tanker overturned while combating the fires, with another seriously injured.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Embassy in Montenegro said in its alert: “Wildfires are common in Montenegro and typically remain outside urban areas, but there is a risk they could spread to Podgorica. Smoke inhalation poses a serious health risk, even if you are not near the flames. If a wildfire is near your location, including your residence, evacuate immediately to an unaffected area.”
Dragana Vukovic, whose house in southeastern Piperi was reportedly destroyed, told Reuters: “Everything that can be paid for and bought will be compensated, but the memories that burned in these four rooms and the attic cannot be compensated.”
Alexandre Favaios, Mayor of Villa Real, a municipality in Portugal said, according to a Reuters report: “We are being cooked alive, this cannot continue.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a post on X, Wednesday: “Emergency teams continue to battle the fire at various points in our country. The wildfire situation remains serious. Taking extreme caution is essential. Thank you, once again, to those who work tirelessly to fight the flames.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. Embassy in Montenegro is expected to update on any further potential hazards.