No one can convince me that this is an accident

A fire broke out at the Uborak landfill near Mostar on Monday morning around 9 AM, quickly spreading to storage areas, buildings, and recycling machinery. The incident has led to the declaration of a technical-technological disaster by joint emergency sessions held by the City of Mostar's Civil Protection Staff and the Canton of Herzegovina-Neretva’s Civil Protection Staff. The fire remains active, and all available forces have been deployed to contain it and manage its consequences. Thick smoke continues to rise from the site, enveloping the city in a dense fog and leaving a strong odor of burning waste. Air quality measurements indicate that the air in Mostar is heavily polluted, raising concerns about public health and environmental impact.

The fire began at the Uborak landfill, which is operated as a public enterprise. According to reports from the Professional Fire Department (PVJ) in Mostar, the affected area is not expanding, but large amounts of smoke continue to emanate from the site. The situation has prompted immediate action from multiple agencies, including civil protection services, fire departments, medical units, aerial firefighting aircraft, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other rescue and protection services. These organizations are working continuously to localize the fire and mitigate its effects. Despite these efforts, the scale of the disaster has raised serious questions about the safety and management practices at the facility.

Mostar’s mayor, Dragan Žuljević, expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that he could not be convinced that this was an accident. He pointed out that the Uborak landfill had experienced six fires in the past three years, each occurring on specific dates: June 18, 2023; February 4, 2024; July 26, 2025; August 22, 2025; May 9, 2026; and June 22, 2026. Žuljević emphasized that such frequent incidents suggest either deliberate actions or negligence rather than random occurrences. However, there is currently no information regarding whether investigations were conducted into previous fires or their outcomes. He criticized the lack of serious response to earlier smaller fires, warning that they had contributed to today’s catastrophic situation with potentially unimaginable consequences.

Žuljević described the damage caused by the current fire as enormous, noting that the full extent of the health impacts will only become apparent later. He also warned that after this fire, there might be an accumulation of waste on Mostar’s streets, adding that even the waste collected so far has not been properly removed. Referring to the advisory issued by civil protection authorities—calling for windows to be closed and people not to go outside—he argued that the message should also include a warning not to breathe, as no window can protect against the pollution. He concluded that the current situation constitutes more than just a technological disaster, likening it to a nuclear catastrophe due to the severity of its potential long-term effects.

The declaration of a technical-technological disaster underscores the gravity of the situation, requiring coordinated efforts among local and regional authorities to address both immediate and long-term challenges. The fire has highlighted systemic issues related to waste management infrastructure and safety protocols at the Uborak landfill. As the situation unfolds, further assessments will likely focus on the environmental and health risks posed by the thick smoke and pollutants released during the fire. Authorities are expected to conduct thorough investigations into the causes of the blaze and the frequency of previous incidents, potentially leading to changes in how such facilities are managed and monitored in the future. The community is being urged to remain vigilant and follow official guidelines to minimize exposure to harmful substances while awaiting further developments.