August the 14th, 2026 – An utterly devastating wildfire in the Omiš area has left a trail of destruction along the Croatian coast, with nearly 200 people rescued from the sea.
Those rescued headed for the safety of the sea and boats, fleeing the flames during a dramatic overnight evacuation. The enormous fire rapidly spread across the Omiš area on Thursday night, forcing residents and visitors to seek safety wherever they could. Index reports that as the flames approached the coastline, dozens of people, including children, entered the sea or boarded vessels in an attempt to escape the fire.
A large-scale maritime rescue operation was launched after authorities received reports at around 23:40 that a significant number of people were in the sea and on boats without supervision. The National Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka coordinated the operation together with the Split Port Authority and its stations in Makarska, Milna and Hvar.
Police vessels, the Croatian Coast Guard, customs officials and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service were also involved. Members of the public and a private passenger-boat company joined the rescue effort.
The most intensive phase of the operation took place between 12:15 a.m. and 2:45 a.m., with rescuers moving between the coastline, the sea and vessels where people had taken shelter.
According to the latest information, port authority crews rescued 194 people, mainly from the areas between Nemira and Ruskamen. Authorities noted that the final number of people rescued could be higher, as other emergency services, private citizens and companies were also involved in the operation.
The fire has also resulted in a serious number of injuries. According to KBC Split, 36 people sought medical assistance, with 14 subsequently hospitalised. Ten of those patients are being treated in intensive care, and seven are in life-threatening condition.
Most of the patients in intensive care suffered serious burns. Doctors described the treatment of burn victims as particularly complex and said that preparations were already under way to transfer some patients to hospitals in Zagreb to ensure they receive the best possible care. Among those seriously injured is a 17-year-old, according to information reported by Index. Further details about individual patients have not been released because of medical privacy.
The response to the disaster is continuing on the ground.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has already arrived in Omiš together with several government ministers. A crisis meeting is being held with senior firefighters, local officials, Civil Protection, police and representatives of KBC Split. President Zoran Milanović is also scheduled to visit Omiš today. According to the Office of the President, he is expected to meet with the mayor of Omiš and representatives of the firefighting service before visiting areas affected by the fire. His arrival is scheduled for 14:00.
Following the overnight rescue operation, maritime authorities continued monitoring the affected coastline as the emergency response moved into a new phase. For many caught in the path of the flames, however, the night will be remembered for the extraordinary decision to escape into the Adriatic, and for the rescue crews who went out into the darkness to bring them back to safety.
