Wildfires have torn through parts of Croatia’s popular coastal summer resorts, causing the evacuation of 150 people.
A mass deployment of firefighters was ordered on Wednesday as hundreds of blazes broke out in the coastal regions of Makarska and Podgora.
The central state firefighting department said that during the demanding 24-hour period, over 1,000 firefighters and 20 specialized planes had to respond to more than 100 fires.
Some 250 reinforcement firefighters from Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, were called in to help.
Goran Bushelić, a local fire department commander, told Croatian television channel RTL on Wednesday: "We managed to control the fire in [the coastal town of] Tučepi, but now it's really bad in Podgora. The fire is coming from all directions. We will fight for every person and object all night long, but we lack people and resources.”
No casualties have been reported so far. However, one firefighter was reportedly injured in the town of Tučepi.
A 65-year-old man suspected of accidentally igniting one fire while working on his beehives has been detained by police for allegedly endangering public safety.
According to Polish broadcaster Polskie Radio 24, the fires are now under control.
High temperatures, droughts, and winds have contributed to the outbreak of many wildfires across Europe this summer. Greece and Turkey have been affected, as well as North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which have sought firefighting assistance from the EU.
Experts have been warning for years that such extreme weather phenomena are the result of climate change.
The central state firefighting department said that during the demanding 24-hour period, over 1,000 firefighters and 20 specialized planes had to respond to more than 100 fires.
Some 250 reinforcement firefighters from Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, were called in to help.
Goran Bushelić, a local fire department commander, told Croatian television channel RTL on Wednesday: "We managed to control the fire in [the coastal town of] Tučepi, but now it's really bad in Podgora. The fire is coming from all directions. We will fight for every person and object all night long, but we lack people and resources.”
Around 150 people were evacuated from the popular tourist destination of Makarska Riviera, in Podgora, and were taken to a nearby primary school, RTL reported.Wild fires in #Croatia #wildfires last night
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No casualties have been reported so far. However, one firefighter was reportedly injured in the town of Tučepi.
A 65-year-old man suspected of accidentally igniting one fire while working on his beehives has been detained by police for allegedly endangering public safety.
According to Polish broadcaster Polskie Radio 24, the fires are now under control.
High temperatures, droughts, and winds have contributed to the outbreak of many wildfires across Europe this summer. Greece and Turkey have been affected, as well as North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which have sought firefighting assistance from the EU.
Experts have been warning for years that such extreme weather phenomena are the result of climate change.
Source: Polskie Radio 24, Associated Press
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