After several days of floods that caused significant damage to homes and neighborhoods in Mitrovica, the current situation is stable.
The commander of the Fire Brigade in South Mitrovica, Burim Ibishi, told KosovaPress that the situation is calm and under control.
“The situation is stable, the rivers are in their beds, and there is no reason for panic,” Ibishi said.
The floods, which affected the neighborhoods of “2 Korriku”, “Business Park”, and other areas on January 7, 2025, were caused by heavy rainfall. The Sitnica River overflowed, flooding homes and forcing around 22 families to evacuate.
Residents have returned to their homes and have begun cleaning and repairing the damage. Beyond the material losses, they also had to contend with a strong odor caused by stagnant water.
However, river problems in Mitrovica are not new; they have persisted for several years.
Civil society activist Lulzim Hakaj told KosovaPress that Mitrovica’s four main rivers—Ibri, Sitnica, Lushta, and Trepça—are in a critical condition.
Hakaj stressed that the city faces serious environmental challenges, pointing to illegal dumping sites like “Gërmova” and the landfill in the free economic zone as the most problematic areas.
Despite cooperation with institutions, efforts to protect Mitrovica’s waters have encountered obstacles. Hakaj noted that initiatives have not received positive responses from the municipal authorities.
He also emphasized that it is unfair to place all blame on institutions, as citizens have not fully cooperated in advancing environmental protection.
The Head of the Environmental Protection Sector, Bahri Sinani, stated that the Sitnica River is polluted by multiple sources, including Kosovo A and B power plants and industrial activities with heavy metals in the Industrial Park.
Sinani added that the Trepça River also suffers from significant waste accumulation, despite door-to-door cleaning campaigns since 2017. In 2025 alone, the Trepça River was cleaned more than four times.
Illegal landfills remain a major problem in Mitrovica and across Kosovo. In 2025, six orders were executed for their removal in the city. However, no administrative fines were issued because the relevant administrative regulation was repealed, removing the inspector’s authority in environmental protection. Sinani noted that this change has negatively impacted the reduction of illegal dumping.
The acting CEO of the waste management company “UNITETI”, Ylber Murtezaj, told KosovaPress that the company has agreements with Mitrovica Municipality to collect waste, maintain squares, and empty small bins across the city.
By the end of 2025, Mitrovica continues to face challenges with illegal dumping and polluted rivers. Without institutional coordination, enforcement measures, and active citizen participation, achieving a clean environment remains an unfulfilled challenge for the new year.
