Wildfires keep sweeping the Balkans as crews battle coastal blazes in Croatia

Major wildfires continue to ravage large parts of the Balkans, with the situation being most serious in Croatia where fires have swept sections of the Adriatic coast in recent days.

Firefighting teams battle blazes along the Dalmatian coast

Crews have been working to contain fires near Zadar, while new outbreaks were reported across the country overnight. Near Omiš the blaze has been brought under control but has already claimed lives and caused widespread injuries.

Viseslav Pesic, commander of a firefighting brigade, described the scale of the fires: "Thousands of hectares burning within a few hours shows the enormous power of the fire. Ideal conditions were created for its spread because of the wind and the terrain's configuration. We could not enter the blaze because that would have resulted in injured firefighters, so all extinguishing efforts were focused on saving human lives."

Croatian media report that a 34-year-old citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina who went missing on August 13 while fleeing the fire has died. Seven people are in critical condition and are on mechanical ventilation; the most seriously injured have been transferred to the Clinical Center in Zagreb.

Tihana Magdic Turkovic, head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Clinic for Traumatology, said: "There are two male and one female patients aged 18 to 46. All have severe burns covering from 40 to 50 percent, and up to 70 percent of the skin. At this moment we are fighting for their lives, that is, we are stabilizing their vital functions."

Montenegro has also faced fires: teams have for days tried to contain blazes above Bijela and Ulcinj, and fires near Herceg Novi and Niksic remain active but under control. Local resident Dragoljub Sencic said: "Firefighters are still here, on duty, although the fire is nearly extinguished. They secure the whole region. I was most endangered. The fire reached the houses but the firefighters managed to put it out."

Albania reported dozens of new forest fires in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Defence registered 35 separate blazes, eight of which remain active. More than 500 firefighters, supported by some 200 soldiers plus several helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft, are fighting the flames.

Fire official Neki Feta warned about the difficult conditions: "The fire affected a large forest area. The terrain is difficult, and the tongues of flame are spreading, aided by strong wind. Nevertheless, the intervention made it possible to bring the fire under control in the part near the homes, and at the moment there is no reported danger to populated places."

In Greece authorities say the situation is largely under control but remain on high alert: the terrain is being monitored by drones and preventive restrictions — including limiting access to forests, national parks and other high-risk areas — are under consideration.

Photo: press material from the event