Sarajevo ranks third most-polluted city worldwide with AQI of 225

Flights were grounded and residents of Sarajevo were told to stay indoors on Thursday as a thick blanket of smog descended on the Bosnia and Herzegovina capital.

According to the Swiss-based air quality monitoring company IQAir, Sarajevo’s air quality reached an extremely unhealthy level, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 225. This placed the city among the world’s most polluted for that day, ranking third globally.

“This is unbearable. It’s suffocating, especially for those with heart conditions,” said local pensioner Hajra Subašić. “I’m struggling to breathe or even speak.”

During the winter months, cities across the Balkans often suffer from high pollution levels due to widespread reliance on coal and wood for heating.

Experts have long warned that such hazardous air quality can lead to serious health issues, even possibly reducing life expectancy.

Sarajevo, which is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, is particularly vulnerable to air pollution. At the same time, poor urban planning, recent overconstruction, poverty-induced subpar heating options and traffic congested by old vehicles have only exacerbated the problem.

“Nobody is taking action”, Subašić laments. “It’s hard to believe this is happening in Bosnia’s capital, and that the authorities are doing nothing to fix it.”

Despite promises from authorities to improve environmental standards, which would be in line with aspirations for European Union membership, countries in the Balkans have a long record of neglecting such issues. Rivers in the region are frequently filled with waste, and recycling efforts remain questionable while uncommon.

On the same day, neighbouring Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, also experienced “unhealthy” air quality, with an AQI score of 170.

In Sarajevo, flights were cancelled early due to poor visibility caused by the smog, and drivers were advised to exercise caution. Many locals wore face masks in an attempt to protect themselves from the harmful air quality.