Fire under Socerb hill getting close to nearby villages

Koper – A fire that broke out last night under Socerb hill in a hard-to-access area near the border with Italy, south-east of Trieste, has not yet been contained, with a strong bora wind spreading it downhill towards the villages of Osp in Slovenia and Prebenico in Italy. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The firefighters on both sides of the border are helped out by helicopters and water bombers, which is especially helpful because of the inaccessible terrain.

Three Slovenian Armed Forces helicopters and a Pilatus plane, as well as two Italian helicopters and two Canadair water bombers were helping extinguish the fire.

The firefighters wanted to contain the fire by the evening when the planes could still help, fearing the bora during the night, which is also forecast for the coming two days.

According to the Slovenian Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration, an area of around 15 hectares is on fire and at least 120 firefighters are trying to put it out.

The most critical section is near the village of Osp, where the effort is focussed on preventing the blaze from crossing the road to get closer the houses.

However, no lives have so far been at risk, although several Osp residents have left their homes, mostly due to smoke, firefighter Jan Brodar said.

As a precautionary measure, the CPK construction company pulled out its workers from the construction site of the Koper-Divača rail track.

The situation seems to be worse on the Italian side. Primorski Dnevnik, the Trieste-based Slovenian newspaper, reported that locals from Prebenico and Crociata villages would be evacuated.

Koper Mayor Aleš Bržan meanwhile said that water supply on the Slovenian coast is not endangered even if the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration had redirected water tank trucks bringing drinking water to the coast to the fire site, and the local water supply utility had urged prudent water use.

He said that the Slovenian Armed Forces and Civil Protection had soon provided additional tank trucks ensuring smooth water supply from inland.

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