Fires rage near southern Bosnian town of Trebinje

Twenty square miles of forest near the Bosnian town of Trebinje has been caught in a large fire that is threatening to reach homes in the area. Firefighters from Trebinje used helicopters to batle the fire, but could not contain it, so more helicopters have been requested from neighbouring Serbia.

According to Milos Vucurovic, a local firefighter, the flames are spreading at extreme speed due to heavy winds and dry weather. Weeks have passed without a drop of rain in the Balkans, and temperatures throughout July and August have been extremely high, even by local standards, where summers are usually hot, with daily temperatures in the lower 40's Celsius.