A large wildfire broke out on Friday near Lokva Rogoznica, a town just south of Split on Croatia's Adriatic coast, according to Italian news outlet Il Messaggero. At least 36 people have been injured in the blaze, and seven of them are in life-threatening condition, the outlet reports.
The fire has forced more than a thousand people from their homes, as reported by multiple Italian media sources including TGLA7 and Rainews. Rainews put the injury count at 19, with some described as serious, while Adnkronos also reported the higher figure of 36 injured and seven critical. The discrepancy in the numbers likely reflects the fast-moving nature of the situation as authorities updated their counts throughout the morning.
Il Messaggero published its report at 10:12 GMT on Friday, August 14, 2026. The fire is burning in a coastal area known for tourism, which may explain the scale of the evacuation effort. The Croatian authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the cause of the fire, and no such detail was included in the available reporting.
The blaze is one of several wildfires in the region this week. Separately, hundreds of people were evacuated due to a large fire near Thessaloniki, Greece, as reported by Italian publication Il Post. That fire, while serious, has not been reported to have caused injuries at the same scale.
What to watch next: Whether Croatian officials confirm the final injury toll and whether the fire spreads further toward Split, which is a major population center and tourist destination.
