Up to 300 Croatian firefighters are battling a wildfire near Split, the country’s second-largest city, that has scorched some 700 hectares.
The fire began in Žrnovnica, near the city, on Sunday night due to a lightning strike, the Croatian Firefighting Association (HVZ) said, adding that the fire rapidly intensified on Monday, requiring the deployment of dozens of fireengines.
The fire is the latest to hit the Balkans in recent weeks amid a summer marked by blistering temperatures in Europe and drought.
Speaking to the public broadcaster Croatian Radiotelevision, Mario Mikas from HVZ described the situation as “large and complex.”
“We’ve managed to suppress some parts of the fire and move it away from homes in Žrnovnica, but we are still facing challenges near Donje Sitno [five kilometers away from Žrnovnica]. Our aim is to contain this front by morning,” Mikas said.
“No houses have been damaged,” Mikas added.
HVZ said that four waterbombing aircraft had also been deployed to battle the blaze.
The fire is the latest to hit the Balkans in recent weeks amid a summer marked by blistering temperatures in Europe and drought.
Speaking to the public broadcaster Croatian Radiotelevision, Mario Mikas from HVZ described the situation as “large and complex.”
“We’ve managed to suppress some parts of the fire and move it away from homes in Žrnovnica, but we are still facing challenges near Donje Sitno [five kilometers away from Žrnovnica]. Our aim is to contain this front by morning,” Mikas said.
“No houses have been damaged,” Mikas added.
HVZ said that four waterbombing aircraft had also been deployed to battle the blaze.
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