2 weeks ago
Wind-driven Wildfire Hits Croatian Tourist Town Omis, Injures Dozens
A big fire, called a wildfire, happened in a pretty town in Croatia called Omis where many people go on holiday.
The fire started on Thursday evening near a place called Lokva Rogoznica and spread very fast because strong winds were blowing.
It burned houses, cars and trees, and made the night sky look red.
About 1,000 people had to leave their homes and stay in emergency shelters.
Some people were hurt: doctors in the nearby city of Split treated 36 people, and seven of them were hurt very badly.
Firefighters worked all night to stop the fire, and by Friday morning it was calmer with no more open flames.
Croatia has been having very hot, dry weather, which makes fires start and spread more easily.
In fact, the city of Split just had its hottest day ever recorded that week.
The leader of Croatia, the Prime Minister, went to visit the town to see what happened.
A wind-driven wildfire broke out late Thursday near Lokva Rogoznica and swept into Omis on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, destroying houses and forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate.
Thirty-six people were treated by ambulance services in Split, with 14 hospitalised and seven suffering life-threatening injuries; the Croatian Firefighters Association separately reported 19 injured.
Flames engulfed settlements and trees across up to 1,000 hectares, turning the night sky red above the scenic tourist town.
The fire calmed by Friday morning with no open flames, and part of the firefighting force and four aircraft were redeployed to another fire on the Peljesac peninsula.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic travelled to Omis with government ministers as 286 firefighters and about 90 fire vehicles battled the blaze.
- Who
- Croatian firefighters and health officials, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and around 1,000 evacuated residents of Omis and nearby settlements
- What
- A wind-driven wildfire swept through wooded and residential areas near Omis, injuring dozens, destroying houses and vehicles, and forcing mass evacuations
- Where
- Lokva Rogoznica and Omis in Split-Dalmatia County on Croatia's Adriatic coast, with a secondary fire on the Peljesac peninsula
- When
- Broke out around 8:21 pm local time on Thursday, raging overnight and calming on Friday morning (August 14)
- Why
- Strong winds, a prolonged summer heatwave and severe drought created ideal conditions for the fire to spread rapidly
Key facts
- Location
- Omis and Lokva Rogoznica, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
- Injuries
- 36 treated in Split (14 hospitalised, 7 life-threatening); firefighters' association reported 19 injured
- People evacuated
- About 1,000 (shelters opened from Omis to Split)
- Area burned
- Up to 1,000 hectares
- Firefighting response
- 286 firefighters, about 90 fire vehicles and four aircraft
- Fire started
- Around 8:21 pm local time Thursday in Lokva Rogoznica
- Prime Minister
- Andrej Plenkovic, who travelled to Omis with ministers
- Transport disruption
- Stretch of major coastal highway shut; several roads closed
Quotes
Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic
Head of Croatia’s fire brigade
“It was a strong fire, it swept everything on its way…there has been huge material damage.”
theprint.in
“Everything flared up in a second.”
theprint.in
Sources
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