A second fire broke out in the woods above the village of Staré Hory (Banská Bystrica Region) on April 22 in the afternoon.
About 80 fire-fighters are trying to bring the fire under control.
"Several factors are complicating our fight against the fire: wind, dry leaves, hot weather and drought," Pavel Pecník, director of Banská Bystrica fire staff, said on April 23. "Professional fire-fighters and volunteer fire-fighters from Žilina are trying to bring the blaze under control using helicopters with water bags, which are needed due to the difficult-to-access terrain."
The wildfire broke out on Sunday above the settlement in the Rybô Valley. It is burning in difficult-to-access terrain and is gradually approaching houses and cottages.
This is the second fire that has broken out in the Staré Hory woods over the past week. The fire that broke out on April 15 was put out on April 18.
The cause of both fires is not yet known.
Specialists say it will take decades for the area to recover.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
