On Friday, the Balkan Peninsula was hit by a massive power outage affecting Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, and parts of Albania.
According to Marcus Oscarsson the cause of the blackout remains unclear, and efforts are underway to determine the exact issue.
Montenegro hit hardest
Montenegro has been hit the hardest, with nearly the entire country experiencing a loss of power.
Montenegro's electricity distributor, CEDIS, confirmed that the outage was due to a network failure. Major cities in Bosnia, including Sarajevo, Mostar, and Banja Luka, have also been affected, with local media reporting blackouts throughout the country.
International Power Disruption Identified
Croatia’s power company, HEP, has described the event as "an international disruption affecting several countries."
They are conducting an analysis in coordination with neighboring countries to identify the cause of the outage.
The power failure has caused significant issues in Croatia, including halted traffic due to non-functioning traffic lights.
Albania has also reported problems, particularly in the capital city of Tirana. The exact cause of the widespread blackout, impacting at least four countries, remains unknown.
Heatwave Compounds Difficulties
The power outage comes amid a severe heatwave in Southern Europe, with temperatures soaring to around 40 degrees Celsius across the Balkan region.
Italy and Greece are also experiencing extreme heat.
Professor Lewis Halse of the University of Roehampton in London warned that temperatures exceeding 40 degrees place vulnerable populations at significant risk. Authorities in various parts of Southern Europe have advised the elderly to stay indoors.
Euronews reported that the intense heat is forcing parents to find ways to cool their children, who are especially vulnerable to temperature fluctuations.
Medical experts emphasize that the elderly and young children are the most at risk during such extreme weather conditions.
