One dead and 14 hospitalised after wildfire sweeps Croatia’s Adriatic coast

Updated 16 August 2026, 11:30 CEST — OMIŠ, Croatia: A wildfire swept through communities around the Adriatic town of Omiš overnight from Thursday, 13 August, into Friday, killing one person and leaving 14 people in hospital, the Associated Press reported. Seven patients were in life-threatening condition early Friday, while Croatian broadcaster HRT reported that 36 people had received medical treatment overall.

The fire began near Lokva Rogoznica and spread rapidly towards Omiš under strong winds, according to HRT. Flames reached homes, vehicles and tourist accommodation, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents and holidaymakers. Police found the victim’s body while searching the burned area, the Associated Press reported; the person’s identity and the precise circumstances of the death had not been publicly established in the reports reviewed.

The regional maritime authorities said rescuers recovered 194 people, including children, from the sea and nearby boats as they tried to escape the advancing fire, according to the Associated Press. HRT reported that hundreds of firefighters, dozens of vehicles and firefighting aircraft were deployed. Crews initially suppressed the open flames on Friday morning, but HRT later reported a renewed outbreak on a hillside and the dispatch of additional aerial support.

The confirmed hospital total differs from the broader casualty count because not everyone treated by emergency services required admission. Reuters initially reported at least 19 injuries, while HRT subsequently placed the number receiving medical assistance at 36. The Associated Press confirmed that 14 were hospitalised. These figures describe different levels of treatment rather than necessarily conflicting totals.

The disaster struck during a wider period of extreme heat and exceptionally dry conditions across Europe. The Associated Press reported simultaneous wildfires and evacuations in France, Germany, Britain, Spain, Albania and Greece. Croatia’s steep, vegetation-covered coastline is especially difficult for ground crews when wind drives flames towards densely occupied seaside settlements.

For Belgians staying in Croatia, the immediate relevance is practical. Belgium’s Foreign Affairs ministry advises travellers affected by wildfires to obey evacuation orders and local access restrictions, monitor official information and register through Travellers Online. The ministry had not issued a Croatia-wide warning linked specifically to the Omiš fire in the material reviewed.

Croatian authorities are expected to clarify the fire’s cause, the final casualty count and the extent of structural and environmental damage. Medical updates on the seven critically injured patients and confirmation that all hotspots have been extinguished remain the most important next developments.