2 weeks ago
Wildfire descends on Croatian tourist town Omis, injures 36
A big fire happened in a pretty town in Croatia called Omis, where many people go on holiday.
The fire was pushed by very strong wind and spread very fast, burning trees and some houses.
More than 1,000 people had to leave their homes to be safe.
They stayed overnight in special buildings in nearby towns.
Firefighters worked very hard, using trucks and planes to fight the flames.
Thirty-six people got hurt and needed help from doctors, and seven of them were very badly injured.
By Friday morning, the fire had calmed down and there were no more open flames.
The leader of Croatia, the Prime Minister, went to visit the town to see what happened.
The hot, dry weather made it easy for fires to start, not just in Croatia but in other parts of Europe too.
It was a very scary night for the people in Omis, but many helpers came to protect them.
A wind-driven wildfire engulfed houses and trees over 1,000 hectares in Omis, a tourist town on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, turning the night sky red.
About 1,000 people were forced to evacuate, and emergency shelters from Omis to Split accommodated them overnight.
Ambulance services in Split treated 36 people for injuries; 14 were hospitalised and seven had life-threatening injuries.
Some 286 firefighters, 90 fire vehicles and four aircraft battled the fire, which appeared to calm by Friday morning with no open flames.
Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic reported huge material damage, while Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic travelled to Omis with several ministers.
- Who
- Croatian firefighters, health officials, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who travelled to Omis with government ministers.
- What
- A strong wind-driven wildfire engulfed houses, settlements and trees over 1,000 hectares in the tourist town of Omis, injuring 36 people and forcing about 1,000 to evacuate.
- Where
- Omis on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, treated at Split about 25 km (15.5 miles) north; a related fire burned on the Peljesac peninsula further south.
- When
- Overnight into Friday, August 14, according to the Reuters report dated Aug 14.
- Why
- Strong winds, hot weather and drought linked by scientists to climate change created ideal conditions for wildfires across Europe this summer.
Key facts
- People injured
- 36
- Hospitalised
- 14
- Life-threatening injuries
- 7
- People evacuated / sheltered
- About 1,000
- Area burned
- Over 1,000 hectares
- Firefighters deployed
- 286
- Fire vehicles / aircraft
- 90 vehicles, 4 aircraft
- Distance from Split
- About 25 km (15.5 miles) north of Omis
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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