On November 30, 2024, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that an explosion occurred in a water supply canal in northern Kosovo on Friday night, affecting the power supply of two coal-fired power plants, which nearly supply the entire nation’s electricity. Kurti blamed neighboring Serbia for the incident, labeling it as a “terrorist attack”.
There have been no immediate reports of casualties, and the cause of the explosion remains unclear. The incident has disrupted the drinking water supply in Kosovo.
Kurti, addressing the nation on television, said: “This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at destroying our critical infrastructure.” He warned that if the issue is not resolved by morning, some parts of the country may face power outages.
Amid the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, both Kurti and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani have accused Serbia of being responsible for the explosion, although no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
Kosovo has experienced two recent hand grenade explosions, with the previous one occurring in northern Kosovo at a police station and municipal building mainly inhabited by Serbs. It is unclear whether these incidents are related, and authorities have announced heightened security measures.
Local media reports indicate that some canals in Kosovo were destroyed and leaked during the explosion, with a significant police presence on-site to handle the aftermath and maintain order.
Faruk Mujka, the head of the hydroelectric company Ibar-Lepenci, revealed that explosives were thrown into the canal, damaging bridge walls and causing leakage. As the main waterway for the primary power company KEK, the water supply had to be halted to address the issue promptly, impacting the drinking water supply in the capital, Pristina.
After nearly a decade of guerrilla activities against Serbian rule, Kosovo declared independence in 2008. However, tensions persist between the two sides. In northern Kosovo, the local Serbian minority does not acknowledge Kosovo’s national status and still considers Belgrade, Serbia, as their capital.
Serbia has not immediately responded to the explosion incident in Kosovo.