News

Wildfires rage through Southeast Europe

  • Wildfires outside Split (Getty Images/AFP)

    Too close for comfort

    Smoke and flames rise from a fire in the Croatian village of Podstrana, near the Adriatic coastal town of Split, on July 18, 2017. In Croatia, the blazes have spread over several locations along the coast and onto the islands, engulfing pine forests and low shrubbery in extremely dry and windy weather.

  • Wildfires in Croatia (Reuters/A. Bronic)

    Hope for the best

    While there were no reports of casualties and the fires only reached a few homes, some people could only stand by and watch as the flames razed everything in their path, especially nature. Fires between the Croatian town of Omis and Split have reportedly destroyed 4,500 hectares of forest.

  • Burnt-out car in Croatia (Reuters/A. Bronic)

    Desperate times

    Forest fires are common in southern Europe each summer, and can sometimes be caused by reckless tourists. However, there have also been cases where speculators have deliberately set fire to properties seeking new land to build on. Croatian news media are already speculating about arson, as fires started in more than 20 sites in Croatia alone.

  • Fire-fighting aircraft in Croatia (Reuters/A. Bronic)

    All hands on deck

    Firefighters used aircraft to try to tackle the flames, which continued overnight in both Croatia and neighboring Montenegro. With fires raging on the mainland as well as on islands such as Pag and Vir, the military was also called in to help in both countries. Montenegro also requested NATO's assistance.

  • Wildfires in Montenegro (Reuters/S. Vasiljevic)

    Situation mostly under control

    Fires that have raged for days in neighboring Montenegro have been brought under control, with soldiers helping to put out blazes on the Lustica peninsula near the town of Tivat. Some remote areas of Montenegro continue to be affected.

  • Wildfires in Montenegro (Reuters/S. Vasiljevic)

    Full picture of damage yet to emerge

    More than 100 tourists had to be brought to safety in Montenegro alone, as wildfires came threatening close to human habitats. The full extent of the damage remains unknown, as there is still some work to do to stop the fires and prevent future blayes in coming days, as temperatures are expected to soar.

  • Wildfires in Italy (picture-alliance/AP Photo/F. Arena)

    Large parts of southern Europe affected

    Europe has been experiencing an unusual heatwave this summer, with temperatures approaching record levels in many places. Southern Italy had to deal with its own wildfires less than a week earlier. The blames consumed swathes of land in the provinces of Cosenza (pictured here) and Salerno as well as parts of Sicily. Portugal was also affected by wildfires a month ago.


Fire fighters have been battling to contain several wildfires in Southeast Europe. Some believe that they were caused by arson. As temperatures remain extremely hot the danger may not yet be fully contained.

  • Date 19.07.2017