Wildfires on Croatia's Adriatic Coast: Tourists Forced to Leave Omiš and Surrounding Area

Tucakovic also sharply criticized individual road users. "Unverantwortliche Personen" had contributed to the spread of the fire by continuing to drive with their burning vehicles, he said. These accusations gained added significance because, according to initial findings, at least one vehicle fire is considered the starting point of the rapid fire spread.

Impact on Split and the Adriatic

The city of Split and the entire region along Croatia's Adriatic coast reported a tense situation. Plumes of smoke drifted over the coastal road and also affected the country's second-largest city. Residents reported impaired visibility and a reddish-tinted sun. Ferry and shipping traffic along the coast was partially restricted.

International Aid and Parallels to Greece

Greece is simultaneously battling a severe wildfire season. Authorities there had also ordered evacuations in recent days after fires engulfed forested hill regions. The parallel operations in Southeastern Europe highlight the strain on regional firefighting capacities at the start of the main travel season.

Assistance forces and firefighting aircraft were also requested from Poland. As of Thursday, there were no final figures on the exact extent of international aid. The Croatian authorities coordinated the support through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to bring additional firefighting aircraft and personnel to the region.

Consequences for Tourism in Dalmatia

For the tourism region around Omiš, the timing of the fire is particularly unfavorable. Mid-August is peak season in Dalmatia, and numerous hotels, vacation apartments, and campsites are fully booked. Tour operators and hoteliers began rebooking guests to other locations along the Adriatic or to accommodations farther away.

Initial estimates placed the burned area at several hundred hectares of forest and brush. Exact figures were not yet available Thursday evening, as firefighting efforts continued. Authorities urged residents to keep doors and windows closed and to stay away from the fire zones.

The Croatian government announced it would declare a state of disaster over the affected areas in order to respond more quickly to offers of assistance from domestic and international sources. A hotline was also set up for tourists to obtain information about safe points of refuge and transport options.

Meanwhile, meteorologists warned of ongoing drought and strong winds in the region. These conditions could further favor the spread of the flames in the coming days. Authorities expected that the fires could only be effectively contained after a change in the weather.