Latest news Hundreds of firefighters fight vegetation fires in Croatia

Hundreds of firefighters are fighting vegetation fires in the Croatian coastal region of Central Dalmatia. According to the local fire department, the situation was most critical on Thursday night around the villages of Podgora and Tucepi on the so-called Makarska Riviera.

In the uphill district of Podgora, the flames reached up to 20 meters to the first houses, reported the local newspaper "Slobodna Dalmacija". More than 300 firefighters with 70 emergency vehicles and firefighting aircraft prevented the houses from burning down. Several dozen tourists and residents were brought to safety. In the morning, the fire department described the situation as largely under control.

According to the authorities, the fire broke out due to the negligence of a local resident in the Biokovo Nature Park, which is located in the mountains above Podgora and Tucepi. According to the report, 400 hectares of vegetation were burnt down. The Biokovo Nature Park is considered unique in Croatia because 1500 meter high mountains reach close to the coast. The area is popular with hikers and ski tourers.

Another fire kept the fire departments busy in Vrsine, 30 kilometers west of Split. In an inaccessible mountain area, around 500 hectares of forest, bushes and meadows were engulfed by flames. Around 60 firefighters with 18 emergency vehicles were active there, according to media reports. Forest and bush fires are common in Croatia in summer. They are now also favored by the persistent drought.

SDA