Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Croatian Resort Town

A fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds swept through the Croatian resort town of Omis overnight, forcing around 1,000 people to evacuate as flames spread across more than 1,000 hectares of homes, forests, and surrounding land.

Evacuees spent the night in emergency shelters between Omis and Split. Medical teams treated 36 people, 14 of whom were hospitalized, including seven with life-threatening injuries.

Fire chief Slavko Tucakovic said the blaze caused extensive property damage, although by Friday morning the situation had stabilized and no active flames remained visible. During the night, 286 firefighters, supported by 90 vehicles and four aircraft, battled the fire.

Some firefighting crews were later redeployed to another wildfire on the Peljesac Peninsula. Much of southern Europe continues to face an elevated wildfire risk as prolonged heat and drought create increasingly dangerous conditions.

(Reuters, mja)