The residents of Jelšava, a small town in Slovakia, are facing severe air quality issues due to smog, especially during the winter heating season. Local authorities have been issuing critical alerts via public announcements, SMS services, and local websites, urging residents to keep windows closed and avoid outdoor activities unless absolutely necessary. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with health conditions are particularly at risk from the polluted air.

This situation has been exacerbated by the town's geographical layout, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains which trap pollutants and prevent their dispersion into higher atmospheric layers. The primary source of the smog consists of PM10 particles released during improper heating practices using solid fuels, alongside other local emitters like the nearby magnesite processing plant. Jelšava has already declared a smog alert twice in January alone, responding to warnings from the crisis department of the Integrated Rescue System in Banská Bystrica.

Community awareness is heightened due to the alarming nature of the air quality, and special alerts are going out to schools and childcare facilities in the area to protect children and educators. As the winter continues, residents hope that actions taken at the local level will mitigate the ongoing air quality crisis and prioritize public health in response to these dangerous atmospheric conditions.