Croatia Wildfire Hits Omis Coast, Forcing Evacuations

Emergency teams in southern Croatia battled severe blazes through Friday night after strong winds pushed a forest fire directly toward populated areas in the coastal town of Omis. The rapid spread of flames forced hundreds of residents and visitors to flee, while authorities scrambled extra personnel to protect residential streets and vehicles.

The inferno spread quickly along the country's picturesque Dalmatian coastline, illuminating the night sky and sweeping through woodland areas near local settlements. Regional emergency medical personnel treated roughly 19 individuals for injuries related to the incident, local network N1 reported.

According to regional governor Blazenko Boban, two victims suffered severe injuries and had to be transferred to a medical center in Split, located roughly 25 kilometers north of Omis. Emergency services worked continuously to stabilize the area between Lokva Rogoznica and the main town center.

Fire crews mounted an extensive overnight defense effort. Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic described the overnight operations as exceptionally tough, noting that firefighters faced a highly intricate threat landscape spanning several coastal communities.

A force comprising 157 firefighters alongside 44 specialized vehicles worked to contain the front lines. To prevent further spread, emergency management agencies dispatched additional crews and equipment from multiple Croatian counties as reinforcements.