Large fire broke out on Saturday (June 21) early in the morning on the Adriatic coast in the area of Piska and Marušić, east of Omiš in Croatia.
A new fire broke out in Makarska on Veliki Brdo, while more than 200 firefighters are fighting the fire in Pisk, Marušići and Mimice, and the police confirmed that the fires were arson.
The Deputy Chief of the Split-Dalmatia Police Department, Siniša Mihanović, stated that the fires were "undoubtedly set" and that the perpetrators are being intensively searched for.
As reported by Dalmacija today, several people have already been interviewed, and the investigation is considering the possibility that more people participated in the subterfuge. Police urge citizens to report any suspicious activity.
A large fire broke out this morning above the highway near the town of Pisak, and aided by a strong storm, it quickly spread towards the settlements of Marušići and Mimice, which administratively belong to the city of Omiš. Due to the inaccessible terrain and the speed of spread, the situation was immediately declared serious.
"The fire broke out a little before seven o'clock, in some places the fire is spreading in the direction of the houses, so the locals are also participating in extinguishing it," said Heaney at the fire station.
According to the media, the forest is burning above the highway, which is closed in that part.
Residents and tourists in the threatened areas were evacuated during the morning, and many were temporarily accommodated in the sports hall in Omiš.
The city of Omiš and local caterers organized free hot meals for evacuees and vulnerable people.
Fire crews are on the ground, and the situation is rapidly changing due to the wind and inaccessible terrain, reports the Croatian portal Index.
Residents try to protect their homes, while tourists, visibly upset, leave the place.
For now, there is no information about the injured.
Firefighters: The situation is extremely serious
Chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković confirmed in an interview with HRT that the situation is extremely serious, and that the state emergency fire service was sent to the field.
"The situation is very serious. We have activated the state forces, the police are also on the ground," said Tucaković. He added that part of the population was evacuated by a Maritime Police ship, which further testifies to the gravity of the situation.
The fire that broke out this morning in the area of Pisak and Marušić, east of Omiš, is raging and the firefighters cannot control it, so they are rescuing houses that are threatened, Hina was told in DVD Omiš.
Cars were burnt in the fire, and firefighters are saving houses one by one. Tourists flee from Pisak and Marušići.
All voluntary fire brigades and all public fire brigades from the area of Split-Dalmatia County were involved in extinguishing the fire.
Source: Index/N1
