The huge fire in the Slovenian Karst, along the border with Italy, is not abating, as evidenced by the dramatic stories of the locals who describe the situation as “desperate” while together with the firefighters they are trying to save “what can be saved”.
The fires in the west of Slovenia have been going on for the fifth day, and the most destructive one, which spread from Italy two days ago, has so far destroyed more than 2,000 hectares.
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Firefighters from most of the country were engaged in extinguishing the biggest fire in the history of Slovenia, and Italy, Croatia, Austria, and Slovakia sent helicopters and canards to help.
Fire in Slovenia on the border with Italy kicked up strongly Thursday, forcing the evacuation of three villages, USNews.com reported.
Tadej Rogelja is one of the 230 residents of the village of Vojščica, most of whom were evacuated. Together with a dozen other locals, he does not want to leave the place and is trying to save the houses from which the fire is several hundred meters away.
– The current situation is frantic, the flames are three times higher than the pine trees, everything is in smoke and very close to the houses – said Rogelja in a telephone conversation with Slovenske television. He decided to stay because he is a member of the civil protection, as well as several other residents who are in good condition.
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There are more than 1,100 people on the ground, and air support is insufficiently effective due to reduced visibility.
