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ZAGREB, June 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Firefighters across the Balkans were facing warnings of more wildfires and millions were told to stay at home during the hottest parts of the day, as a heatwave intensified on Wednesday.

Fires already ripped through dozens of homes in Croatia's tourism-focused 
south on the weekend and firefighters in Albania battled to get more than a dozen blazes under control on Wednesday.

Government agencies in several parts of the Balkans were expecting 
temperatures to approach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on 
Thursday.

In Croatia, with areas still recovering from fires that forced evacuations and razed homes over the weekend, the fire authority warned of a high fire danger across the country for Thursday.

"We urge citizens to be extra cautious and to contribute to safety along the coast and inland through responsible behaviour," Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic said in a statement.

From the capital Zagreb in the north to Dalmatia in the south, several 
regions would be on the "highest level of warning" on Thursday for health and fire risk, the authority said.

"Let's not allow scenes of raging wildfires to become our daily reality," the authority said.

As Albania wrestled its current crop of forest fires under control, there 
were already fears the hot and dry conditions could spark fresh blazes.

And Serbia too was facing warnings over extreme heat, with the capital 
Belgrade climbing to 37C on Wednesday and expected to reach 39C on Thursday.

People in several countries were warned to avoid being outdoors in the 
hottest parts of the day and work from home if possible.