At least one person has been killed and 42 others injured after a fast-moving wildfire swept through Croatia’s Adriatic coast, forcing large-scale evacuations and prompting authorities to launch a major emergency response.

The blaze erupted near the coastal towns of Omiš and Lokva Rogoznica, where strong winds rapidly pushed flames through dry vegetation and toward populated areas. More than 1,000 people were evacuated, including residents and tourists, as firefighters battled to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Nearly 200 people were rescued, with some escaping the advancing flames by entering the Adriatic Sea, according to reports. The scale and speed of the fire overwhelmed parts of the coastal community and forced emergency services to establish shelters for people displaced from their homes and accommodation.

At least 42 people were treated following the blaze, while 14 were hospitalised and several suffered life-threatening injuries. Earlier reports said seven people were in critical condition, with some requiring treatment at specialist hospitals in Zagreb.

The fire also caused extensive property and environmental damage. Reports said flames burned across more than 1,000 hectares, affecting homes, vegetation and parts of the surrounding landscape.

Emergency crews faced particularly difficult conditions as strong winds accelerated the spread of the flames. Firefighters, supported by aircraft and hundreds of emergency personnel, worked through the night to contain the blaze.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the affected area and praised firefighters and emergency workers for their efforts.

Plenković described the blaze as “one of the worst fires in recent years”, while expressing support for the communities affected by the disaster.

Croatian authorities have continued monitoring the situation as firefighting resources remain on alert. Although the main blaze near Omiš has eased, emergency teams have had to remain vigilant as new fires have been reported elsewhere along the country's coast.

The fire comes amid a wider wave of destructive wildfires across Europe, with major blazes also reported in Greece, France, Germany and the United Kingdom during a period of extreme summer heat.

Experts and officials have increasingly linked the worsening wildfire conditions across the Mediterranean to prolonged heat, dry vegetation and drought, factors that can allow fires to spread rapidly once they begin.

For Croatia, the latest disaster has again highlighted the vulnerability of heavily populated tourist areas along the Adriatic coast, particularly during the peak summer season when thousands of residents and visitors are concentrated in coastal communities.

Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage while emergency crews remain deployed to protect communities and prevent further outbreaks. (ILKHA)