- A violent vegetation fire rages on the Croatian Adriatic coast.
- Several popular holiday resorts by the sea on a distance of about 50 kilometers south of Split are affected.
- Residents and tourists were evacuated.
A section of the highway along the coast had to be blocked between the towns of Omis and Dubce, reported Croatian media. The police are investigating suspected arson.
Several municipalities set up emergency accommodation for the people brought to safety. Dozens of tourists made use of it. The Red Cross sent a medical and doctors who treated various slightly injured. Helps provide people with food.
The fire initially broke out 30 kilometers south of Split in the Pisak and Marusici settlements. Marusici with his approximately 200 inhabitants and many tourists was evacuated. The water police also brought many people to safety by ship. Several houses and cars burned out. Further evacuations are underway. Later there was a vegetation fire at the north harbor of Split that started to spread towards a barracks.
According to the media, firefighters said that the fire was completely out of control. The fire fighting also runs with aircraft. The use from the air had to be temporarily interrupted due to too strong winds. Dryness, heat and strong wind would promote the spread of the fire, especially in the slightly burning pine forests in the area, it was said.
According to information from the population, the police have started investigations into suspected arson. This is said that near the town of Makarska on a small area, fire broke out at the same time at three different places. Interruptions of former provisions are underway, the police said, according to media reports.
