Heat Waves Make Lakes In Serbia Dry

JAKARTA - The Balkans, along with most of Europe, continue to experience prolonged heat waves, trigger forest fires and dry lakes in Serbia for the first time.

Meteorologists warn that such heat waves could become more severe.

"Currently, we are in the midst of extreme weather events, heat waves characterized by their length and intensity," Vladimir Djurdjevic, an Belgrade-based meteorologist, told Reuters on Wednesday, July 17.

Temperatures are rising across the Balkans this week, with most countries in the region, including Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, estimating temperatures to reach around 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit).

In Serbia, Rusanda lake in northern province of Vojvodina, which contains mud, dried up for the first time, local residents said.

"In the past, the swamp and now the swamp has disappeared. This is the lowest (dand) surface and this is also affected by this drought," said a resident of Sava Jovkic, 72 years old.

On Wednesday, Serbian public health institutions declared dangerous conditions in 10 cities. The day before, the capital Belgrade recorded the hottest temperature on July 16, with a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F).

The Adriatic Sea Temperature reached a record high of 29.5 degrees C at several Croatian coastal resorts.