Sarajevo Faces Severe Pollution and Fog Disrupting Travel

Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital, Sarajevo, is experiencing severe air pollution, causing significant travel disruptions. Festive lights were switched off, and children were advised to stay indoors as visibility dropped in the valley city.

Outdoor construction activities were halted, and several flights were cancelled during the morning rush hour. Traffic slowed considerably, with some residents wearing face masks to cope with the toxic air.

Sarajevo's geography traps domestic and traffic emissions, exacerbated by temperature inversions, leading to dangerous pollution levels that exceed safety limits for over one hundred days a year. In response to these hazardous conditions, authorities have implemented emergency measures, including a ban on heavy goods vehicles and older, high-emission cars from the city centre.

Despite these efforts, the transition to cleaner energy remains slow, contributing to Bosnia's high per-capita death rates linked to air pollution. The situation highlights the severe impact of environmental conditions on transportation systems in the region.