Wildfire in Omis
A severe wildfire swept across the Croatian resort town of Omis on August 14, 2026, spreading over more than 1,000 hectares and reaching residential areas. About 1,000 people were evacuated. Medical teams treated 36 people, 14 of whom were hospitalized, and seven were in critical condition. In Split, located roughly 25 km north of Omis, doctors continued providing care to the injured. Because both the Adriatic coast and Sicily are popular tourist destinations, these emergencies have placed additional strain on local responders.
The firefighting operation involved:
- 286 firefighters
- 90 fire engines
- 4 aircraft
Crews fought the flames through the night, and by morning no open fire remained in Omis as the blaze subsided. Some units were later sent to the Peljesac Peninsula, where another fire had started. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, accompanied by several government members, traveled to Omis. A stretch of Croatia’s main coastal highway was closed to traffic because of the wildfires.
Residents described the situation as critical.
“It was a powerful fire, sweeping away everything in its path... The material damage is enormous,” said Slavko Tucakovic.Witness Goran Lovic added: “Everything burst into flames within seconds. It happened suddenly—open fire appeared in an area that had been forest, with no houses nearby.”
Natural Disasters Across Europe
At the same time, other parts of Europe are dealing with natural disasters. Mount Etna’s eruption on Sicily forced the shutdown of Catania airport because of volcanic ash. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported lava flows from two craters, and two additional vents have opened. Aviation disruption caused by Etna has lasted for nearly a week.
The wildfire in Croatia and Etna’s eruption both underline the growing threat of natural disasters in the Mediterranean region and the urgent need for protective measures. They also highlight how essential it is to build strong emergency-response strategies and improve public awareness of potential risks. As climate change intensifies, such events may become more frequent, demanding timely action from governments and local communities to prevent disasters and reduce their consequences.
As wildfires continue to ravage different regions, the situation in Croatia mirrors that of Greece, where devastating fires have led to the destruction of over 100 homes. The escalating frequency of such natural disasters raises concerns about the impact on emergency services and local communities. For more on the situation in Greece and its implications, see the latest updates on the wildfires in Greece.