Disasters & Incidents
Croatia wildfire: woman's body found after Omis blaze
Croatian police found the body of a woman in burned scrub on Friday after a wildfire swept through the coastal area around Omis, forcing about 2,000 people to evacuate and sending 40 people to Split hospital.
Split police said the body was located Friday. Media reported that it was found in Lokva Rogoznica, about 30 kilometres south of Split. Police had declared a 34-year-old Bosnian missing but did not say whether that case was linked to the body.
Hospital officials said 10 of the people admitted to Split hospital were in intensive care, with injuries including severe burns. The patients included a German tourist and a Polish tourist.
Authorities said dozens of cars were destroyed amid reports of homes being burned. Buildings were also damaged, with some structures completely destroyed.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the fire had spread “at lightning speed” in a densely populated area with about 15,000 residents and 12,000 tourists. Fire chief Slavko Tucakovic told national radio the blaze was “one of the worst in Croatia's history” and said houses, cafes, restaurants, cars and boats on dry land were damaged.
Hundreds of tourists were among those evacuated to a Red Cross shelter in Omis, local Red Cross director Ana Stejskal told HRT. Other shelters opened in Split and Makarska.
After four Canadair water bombers were deployed at dawn, authorities said the situation near Omis was calmer. Firefighting aircraft were later redeployed to another blaze on the Peljesac Peninsula, where homes were under threat.
Update
The body found in the burned area was described as that of a woman.
Police had declared a 34-year-old Bosnian missing but did not specify whether there was a link to the discovered body.
Authorities said dozens of cars had been destroyed amid reports of homes being burned.
Split recorded 39.7C earlier in the week, according to the supplied item.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 20:44:46 UTC.
Update
Croatian police said they found a body in a burnt-out area on Friday.
Split police said they were investigating the discovery.
Local media reported the body was found in Lokva Rogoznica, where the fire began.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 13:39:02 UTC.
Update
Hospital officials said 40 people had been admitted to Split hospital so far.
Those admitted included a German tourist and a Polish tourist.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the affected area was densely populated, with a township of 15,000 people and about 12,000 tourists.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 12:32:37 UTC.
Update
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said 14 people had been hospitalised, including 10 in intensive care.
Around 2,000 people had been evacuated from nearby villages.
HINA said another 12 people had been treated for injuries.
Hundreds of tourists were among those evacuated to shelters.
Authorities said conditions in Omis were calmer after four Canadair water bombers were deployed, while aircraft were sent to another blaze on the Peljesac Peninsula.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 10:31:45 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Police did not specify whether the reported missing 34-year-old Bosnian was linked to the body that was found.
The precise cause of the Omis-area wildfire was not supplied.
The full extent of damage to homes, businesses, cars and boats was not yet quantified.
Source
AFP news report published on .