FIRE has once again taken hold in the High Tatras, the daily SME wrote. Experts say that the fire could be the largest in the past fifty years.
From Saturday, firefighters from all over Slovakia have been protecting hotels and houses between Tatranská Polianka and Starý Smokovec. On Sunday night, the crisis committee decided to request international aid. This morning special firefighting helicopters will arrive from Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Many tourists were evacuated on Saturday, and many decided to cut their holiday short and return home. A local petrol station was also under the threat. The agriculture ministry has issued a ban on entering tourist and hiking trails in the area; cars are also restricted from entering the High Tatras.
On Sunday, firefighters had to contend with a wind that spread the fire over a large area. By the afternoon, more than 250 hectares of wood left by November’s windstorm was burning.
Compiled by Magdalena MacLeod from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
