A fast-moving wildfire on Croatia's Brač Island forced hundreds to flee to the sea as flames approached a resort near Split. Authorities reported about 500 people evacuated while some media put the number who fled by boat closer to 700; more than 3,500 hectares are believed to have burned. Rescues involved speedboats, fishing vessels and the Croatian navy, and no fatalities were reported in the cited accounts.
Hundreds Flee to Sea as Fast-Moving Wildfire Rips Through Croatia's Brač Island
Photo Credit: iStock
A fast-moving wildfire on Croatia's Brač Island forced hundreds of holidaymakers and residents to flee toward the sea as flames swept through a resort area near Split. The blaze advanced across the island's southwest late in the evening, driven by a sudden shift in strong sea winds around 9 p.m.
Evacuations and Rescues
Fire crews and local authorities reported roughly 500 people were evacuated from Brač, many of them guests at the Gava Waterman Milna Resort; other media reports indicate as many as 700 people fled by sea. Speedboats, fishing vessels and ships from the Croatian navy and port authorities joined private boats in rescue efforts as evacuees sought safety on the water.
"We had to run for our lives as a wall of flames closed in and we were showered by burning embers," said British tourist Josh Robbins. His fiancée, Shelby A'Court, described being on a stand-up paddleboard before a boat picked them up: "It was a matter of life and death. We're safe now and that's what matters."
A resort spokesperson said the fire was "exceptionally fast-moving, driven by very strong winds," and that power outages and heavy smoke severely reduced visibility, causing conditions to change dramatically in a short period. Several guests told reporters they felt "abandoned" during the evacuation; the resort rejected that claim while saying it understood why guests were terrified.
Impact and Context
Officials estimate the fire scorched more than 3,500 hectares. Firefighters continued efforts to contain the blaze amid ongoing evacuations. Local officials said crews believed the fire had been reined in earlier, but a sudden sea wind around 9 p.m. caused the flames to reignite and spread rapidly.
The incident highlights a broader trend of increasing wildfire risk in parts of Europe and beyond, where hotter, drier conditions make fires faster and more unpredictable and place added strain on emergency services.
According to the accounts cited by local media, there were no reported fatalities. Evacuees described chaotic scenes, lost belongings and dramatic rescues by official and private boats as crews worked to bring the situation under control and assess the full extent of the damage.
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