Massive wildfires sweep Croatia's resorts, thousands evacuated
Photo: Wildfires in Croatia (facebook.com/DNEVNIK.hr)
More than 40 people are currently known to have been injured by wildfires in Croatia. Ten people are in intensive care, according to Euronews.
Wildfires in Croatia
Croatia’s top resorts have been engulfed by wildfires. During the peak tourist season, entire communities along the coast have been affected by the flames.
Officials said at least 10 people have been admitted to intensive care.
Firefighters battled overnight with "one of the worst" fires in the country’s history.
Around 2,000 people were evacuated from nearby villages after the fire spread across the surrounding hills on the morning of August 14. Homes were damaged and vehicles destroyed.
Massive wildfires sweep Croatia's resorts, thousands evacuated pic.twitter.com/lgD7p8Hx52
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) August 14, 2026
During a visit to the region, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed that the fire was spreading "at lightning speed."
Hospital officials said more than 40 people had been admitted to a medical facility in Split, including German and Polish tourists.
Hundreds of tourists were among those evacuated to a shelter in Omiš set up by the Red Cross, according to the outlet. Several other shelters were opened in the nearby coastal cities of Split and Makarska.
Fires continue to rage across the Balkans
As the situation in Omiš eased, a firefighting aircraft was sent to another blaze on the Pelješac Peninsula, where homes were at risk.
Fires were also burning in other parts of the Balkans as a heatwave brought sharply rising temperatures and worsened drought conditions.
Emergency crews in Montenegro have been battling fires along the coast for several days, while fires were also reported near Albania’s capital on Thursday.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that preventing future wildfires in Europe could depend on having enough goats. Researchers believe that livestock grazing on shrubs can help slow the spread of fires in some parts of Spain.
It was also reported that uncontrolled wildfires in Spain and France had forced more than 250,000 people to flee, as authorities in both countries worked to contain the flames.
In addition, Ukrainian rescuers were sent to France to help fight the massive wildfires. A 70-member rescue team and 15 pieces of specialized equipment were deployed to the country.
