All conditions have been met to declare a natural disaster, the Forest Service says. The government meanwhile tweeted that funds to mitigate the consequences are available in rural development programmes of the current financial perspective of the EU.

The increase in bark beetle population was expected after large areas of forest were damaged by strong winds in 2017 in 2018. Damage was the worst in the areas of Kočevje, Slovenj Gradec, Maribor and Bled.

Their spreading was boosted by high summer temperatures, which not only helped the population of the insect grow but also weakened the trees' resistance.

The report says that 677,168 cubic metres of trees need to be cut down.