Wildfire on Croatia's Adriatic Coast Sends Hundreds to Shelters, Ten in Intensive Care — The Debate
A fast‑moving blaze near Omiš has forced thousands to evacuate and left ten people in intensive care.
A fast‑moving blaze on the Adriatic coast near Omiš has left at least ten people in intensive care and forced thousands to flee.
Fire crews battled through the night with what officials described as one of the worst fires in Croatia's recent history.
Around 2,000 residents were evacuated from nearby villages as the flames ripped through hills, damaging homes and destroying vehicles in the early hours of Friday.
During a visit to the area, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković warned of the danger and praised the firefighters, saying the speed of the spread was unprecedented.
He noted that the region is densely populated, with a town of about 15,000 people and an additional 12,000 tourists present at the time.
Hospital officials reported that 40 patients, including a German and a Polish visitor, have been admitted to Split hospital.
Fire chief Slavko Tucaković said nearly 300 firefighters were deployed overnight, but the blaze often outpaced their efforts.
"It was frightening even to watch," he told national radio, describing the damage to houses, cafés, restaurants, cars and boats.
The disaster highlights the growing risk of heat‑driven wildfires across southern Europe, where many holiday destinations face similar threats each summer.
Tourist evacuations strain cross‑border emergency coordination, as many visitors come from EU neighbours such as Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.
The fire underscores the need for EU member states to share resources and expertise in wildfire management, a topic under discussion in recent European Commission meetings.
Hundreds of tourists were among those moved to a shelter set up by the Red Cross in Omiš, according to its local director.
Additional shelters opened in nearby coastal towns of Split and Makarska, providing beds, showers, toilets and food, though officials admit the duration of the crisis remains uncertain.
Four Canadair water‑bombers were deployed at dawn, helping to calm the situation before they were redirected to another blaze on the Pelješac Peninsula, about 70 kilometres south.
Blazes are also burning in other parts of the Balkans as a heatwave brings soaring temperatures and worsens drought conditions.
Emergency crews in Montenegro have been battling fires along the coast for several days, while fires were reported near Albania's capital on Thursday.
Temperature records, already broken this summer, were again surpassed earlier this week when nearby Split recorded 39.7°C.