OMIS — Firefighters brought the blaze under control by Friday after a wildfire near Lokva Rogoznica spread rapidly to Omis. The fire injured approximately 40 people, killed one person, and forced the evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents and tourists.

More than 300 firefighters were deployed overnight on Thursday to combat the flames. Four Canadair water-bombing aircraft were placed on standby to assist ground crews. Emergency shelters were opened in several towns along the coast to accommodate those displaced by the fire.

A body was discovered in a burnt-out area on Friday. Croatian health officials reported that fourteen people were hospitalized, with seven in life-threatening condition. Ten people were in intensive care following the incident.

Homes, cars, and boats were damaged or destroyed by the fire. Parts of the main coastal road were closed as emergency crews worked to contain the spread. Parts of Omis lost power as the fire approached the town center.

Some people jumped into the sea from boats to escape the fire. People abandoned vehicles directly in the fire zone, hindering emergency crews. Fire chief Slavko Tucakovic described the blaze as one of the worst in the country's history.

"The fire had spread at lightning speed and with gale-force winds," Plenkovic said. He noted that maximum efforts were being made to contain the fire and all relevant emergency services were involved in the crisis response. "What firefighters had managed to save was truly a miracle," he added.

The police were tasked with determining the cause of the fire, as Plenkovic said he did not want to speculate, stressing that the police should be given time to determine the cause. In total, some 2,000 people were evacuated from villages near Croatia’s coast during the broader regional emergency.

Timeline

On August 13, 2026, strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The blaze broke out near the village of Lokva Rogoznica on Thursday evening. The fire spread towards the tourist town of Omis, located 6km away. The fire engulfed 1,000 hectares in four hours. More than 300 firefighters were deployed overnight on Thursday.

On August 14, 2026, Fire chief Slavko Tucakovic described the blaze as one of the worst in the country's history. Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic stated, "It was a strong fire, it swept everything on its way…there has been huge material damage." Prime Minister Andrej he said, "The fire had spread at lightning speed and with gale-force winds."

What's New

Additional reporting confirmed that Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic stated, "It was a strong fire, it swept everything on its way…there has been huge material damage." According to croatiaweek.com, Prime Minister he said the wildfire spread extremely quickly, with the situation changing from minute to minute due to hurricane-force winds. He said maximum efforts were being made to contain the fire and all relevant emergency services were involved in the crisis response.

Further details show that in total, some 2,000 people were evacuated from villages near Croatia’s coast. Parts of Omis lost power as the fire approached the town center. Health data revealed that fourteen people were hospitalized, with seven in life-threatening condition.

Why It Matters

The scale of the destruction shows the severity of the event, with Fire chief Slavko Tucakovic describing the blaze as one of the worst in the country's history. The rapid spread of the fire, which engulfed 1,000 hectares in four hours, demonstrates the intense conditions driven by strong winds. Approximately 40 people were injured, and a body was discovered, reflecting the human cost of the disaster.

The incident fits within a broader pattern of wildfire activity in the region. Successive heatwaves in the year scorched approximately 500,000 hectares (1.24 million acres) of land across the European Union. PureSource News reported on 2026-08-14: Europe Battles Wildfires as Heat Forces Evacuations. The evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents and tourists, part of a total of some 2,000 people evacuated from villages near Croatia’s coast, reflects the extensive disruption caused by the fire.