Bosnia’s capital chokes on toxic air as thick blanket of smog engulfs Sarajevo

Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, Sarajevo is particularly prone to air pollution.

A tall building peaks through a dense layer of fog and smog in Sarajevo, Bosnia (Armin Durgut/AP)

Flights have been grounded and people told to stay indoors as a thick blanket of smog engulfed Bosnia’s capital as residents tried to cope with toxic air.

Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, put Sarajevo’s air quality index (AQI) at a “very unhealthy” 225, ranking the city as the third most polluted in the world.

“This is horrible, we are chocking, particularly people with heart conditions,” said pensioner Hajra Subasic. “I can barely breathe, you see how hard it is for me to speak.”

Sarajevo and other major cities in the Balkans are traditionally very polluted during winter months as countries there rely on coal and wood for heating.

A dense layer of fog and smog blankets Sarajevo — A dense layer of fog and smog has blanketed Sarajevo (Armin Durgut/AP)

Experts have warned of effects on people’s health because bad air is linked to various diseases and premature deaths.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, Sarajevo is particularly prone to air pollution. Bad urban planning and a proliferation of tall buildings have made the problem worse in recent years.

“Nobody is doing anything,” said Ms Subasic. “I can’t believe this is happening in Bosnia’s capital and they (the authorities) can’t fix it.”

Balkan states generally have a poor record in environment protection despite promises to improve the situation as they seek to move closer to European Union membership. Balkan rivers are often clogged with rubbish and recycling is almost non-existent.

A woman wears a face mask shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo — Many people could be seen wearing face masks for at least some protection (Armin Durgut/AP)

The air in neighbouring Serbia’s capital Belgrade was also deemed “unhealthy” on Thursday with the air quality index put at 170.

In Sarajevo, planes were grounded during the morning hours because of the fog and drivers were warned to take additional care because of low visibility. Many people could be seen wearing face masks for at least some protection.