A massive forest fire continues to rage in Croatia, and the flames, spreading from the Lokva-Rogoznica area towards the tourist town of Omiš, have transformed this exceptionally picturesque settlement, situated in the central part of the Adriatic coast, into a grim depiction of an apocalypse.
As of the evening of August 14, one fatality and 40 injuries have been reported, with eight individuals in critical condition. Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated, according to Index. The deceased is a young person whose identity and gender have not yet been established.
Eyewitnesses claim this individual was in a car with two other women on the Adriatic Highway near Mala Luka. When flames engulfed them, they exited the vehicle, but one of the three could not escape. The surviving women sustained severe injuries.
Search efforts are also underway for a 34-year-old citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina who went missing last night.
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Four patients from Omiš, suffering from burns covering 70% of their bodies, have been transported to Zagreb. All are on artificial respiration, with medical professionals fighting for their lives.
According to media reports, the forest fires in the vicinity of Omiš have already been declared the largest and most challenging in the country’s recent history, though the full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.
In places like Stanici and other communities surrounding Omiš, assessing the damage will likely take several days. In addition to the destroyed vehicles visible everywhere, numerous private homes and apartment buildings have also been damaged.
The northern flank of the fire remains active and is slowly advancing above the peaks of Omiš Dinara.
In combating the blaze until late at night, military air forces participated alongside firefighting crews. Between 200 and 250 firefighters remain on the ground, facing a difficult night ahead, stated fire chief Slavko Tučković. The firefighting operation is being hampered by a continuous bora wind, which is forecast to intensify overnight.
The official cause of the catastrophic fires is still unknown. Firefighters suggest it is most likely a combination of the heat, the nocturnal bora wind, and dry vegetation and trees.
Fires are also raging in Greece. In the northern part of the country, the resort region of Halkidiki is ablaze. The fire has approached the beaches and engulfed resort villages.
It is worth recalling that extensive forest fires in France and Spain forced over 280,000 local residents and tourists to hastily evacuate their homes and hotels.
Forest fires were also reported on Crete. There, the flames are raging near the resort town of Rethymno. Thousands of people were evacuated by boats.