Heatwave sparks widespread electricity outages across Balkan nations
Blackouts negatively affect life in the Balkans where temperatures approach 40 degrees Celsius, June 21, 2024. (AA Photo)
Electricity outages have severely disrupted daily life across several Balkan countries, including Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo.
In Montenegro, where temperatures have soared to 40 degrees Celsius, a midday malfunction in the electricity distribution system caused widespread power cuts affecting nearly the entire country. Similar issues were reported in some regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
Montenegro’s Energy Distribution Company is actively working to resolve the problem. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Electricity Company cited a fault in a regional distribution line as the cause of the outage.
The power cuts in Bosnia and Herzegovina impacted essential services such as tram operations in the capital Sarajevo and traffic lights, leading to significant traffic congestion. In Croatia’s Split, the outage also disrupted traffic flow.
Albania and Kosovo experienced brief electricity outages, swiftly resolved by their respective authorities. Albania’s Transmission System Operator attributed the issue to high transmission volumes and extreme heat affecting the interconnection line with Greece. The nationwide electrical problem in Albania was resolved within an hour.
Kosovo faced localized power cuts in specific areas without affecting the entire country, confirmed by Kosovo’s Electricity Supply Company.
As a result of the ongoing heatwave across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, citizens are advised to exercise caution, stay hydrated, and minimize sun exposure to mitigate health risks.
