A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday (August 14).

Flames enveloped settlements and trees over 1,000 hectares, turning the night sky red above Omis, a scenic town on Croatia's prized Dalmatian coast surrounded by trees and rocky hills.

Of thirty-six people treated by ambulance services in the city of Split, about 25 km (15.5 miles) to the north, 14 were hospitalised, and seven had life-threatening injuries, health officials said.

Emergency shelters, opened in several towns on the stretch from Omis to Split, accommodated about 1,000 people overnight.

The fire appeared to have calmed on Friday morning and there were no open flames, Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucakovic said.

Hot weather and drought that scientists link to climate change have created ideal conditions for wildfires across Europe this summer, especially in France, Spain and Greece. The Balkans has also endured several heatwaves.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

REFILE: Wildfire descends on Croatian tourist town, injures 36

VIDEO SHOWS: HILLS NEAR TOWN ON FIRE / PEOPLE BEING EVACUATED / INJURED BEING TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE / PEOPLE PASSING ON BLANKETS AND WATER

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RESENDING EDIT WITH ADDITIONAL SOUNDBITES FROM LOCALS AND TOURIST FROM POLAND IN SHOTS 13, 14, 15 AND 24.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: OMIS, CROATIA (AUGUST 13, 2026) (NOVA TV - No use Croatia) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF FLAMES AND THICK SMOKE OVER HILLS, CARS IN TRAFFIC

2. VARIOUS OF CARS IN TRAFFIC, PEOPLE BEING EVACUATED WALKING ON SIDEWALK, FIRE IN BACKGROUND

3. HILLS ON FIRE

4. PEOPLE WALKING, FIRE IN BACKGROUND

5. VARIOUS OF FIRE

6. PERSON BEING CARRIED ON STRETCHER TO AMBULANCE

7. PERSON ON STRETCHER BEING TENDED BY EMERGENCY WORKERS

8. FIRE BEHIND BUILDING

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE SPORTS HALL BUILDING

10. VARIOUS OF WOMAN SITTING IN AMBULANCE BEING CHECKED BY EMERGENCY WORKER

11. VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY WORKERS BY AMBULANCE

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING AND LYING ON GROUND

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) LOCAL RESIDENT, LJUBICA UGLESIC, SAYING:

"The fire was burning on both sides. I was driving the car, my foot was constantly going between the accelerator and the brake. One car came rushing by; another was approaching from that side road. Then one lane opened up here, then another one, and cars were switching over, while the flames were licking both sides of the road. When I got a little further around the bend and looked, I saw flames shooting up from under my hood. The car was on fire! Poor me... I pulled slightly to the right and stopped the car, but the lights were still on. I could see the flames burning. I parked, got out, grabbed a bottle of water that my family members handed me so I could try to put it out. Then a police officer shouted: 'Leave it there, leave it there! Get in the car, get in!' I left the car and got into the police vehicle, and they drove us to the fire station in Omis."

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM POLAND, ADA (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING:

"When we were in Stanici, we, you know, smelled smoke, so we just gathered the most necessities and we get out. I know if Stanici is burned down, I think we'll just go back to Poland. I don't think if..."

JOURNALIST ASKING: "What about your stuff back in Stanici?"

"I just left some clothes, you know, all my electronics, all my necessities I gathered, so those are fine but yeah, most of my clothes and, I don't know, food, cosmetics, something like this."

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) LOCAL RESIDENT FROM STANICI, MLADJU STANIC, SAYING:

“The fire was huge. A group of Germans were in front of me and their car had caught fire. The road was blocked, so I couldn't get through toward Omis. I got into the burning car. There was no key. Using my foot, I pushed the burning vehicle aside so I could drive my Mercedes past it and continue toward Omis.”

16. WOMEN EMBRACING

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PASSING ON BAGS

18. PEOPLE PASSING ON BOTTLED WATER

19. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LYING ON FOLDABLE BEDS IN SPORTS HALL

20. MAN PUSHING SHOPPING CART WITH BOTTLED WATER

21. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN SPORTS HALL

22. WOMAN CARRYING INFLATABLE MATTRESS

23. VARIOUS OF HILLS BEHIND BUILDINGS ON FIRE, PEOPLE WATCHING FROM SHORE

24. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) LOCAL RESIDENT, MARIN (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING:

"A catastrophe, terrible."

JOURNALIST ASKING: "Do you live somewhere close?"

"I’m here, across the road, but I don’t even know where to go. I’m watching people, houses burning. Terrible, terrible."

JOURNALIST ASKING: "We haven't had this situation here for a long time?"

"I’ve lived here my whole life and I don’t remember anything like this. Lokva (nearby village) has burned several times, but never anything like this, with the fire reaching the firefighters here, all the way to Bika’s (neighbour's) garage. Houses are burning over there, look over there. It’s terrible. I don’t know what to say."

25. VARIOUS OF HILLS BEHIND BUILDINGS ON FIRE, PEOPLE WATCHING FROM SHORE