Eerie scenes near Omiš: People flee as hundreds evacuated by boats and buses VIDEO

The Ribnjak Sports Hall in Omiš is packed with people, while buses operated by Split’s Promet transport company are taking evacuees to Split, to the Gripe Sports Hall, Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban confirmed.

It is not known exactly how many people fled ahead of the fire. More than 100 people were evacuated by boat in an operation organised by the Harbour Master’s Office.

Many tourists left their accommodation without personal belongings, while some were even left without their documents and money.

Large number of cars burned

Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar visited the fire-hit area and said he had seen a large number of burned-out cars, although the exact number cannot yet be determined. He said the scale of the disaster was unprecedented in the area and that the only consolation was that there had been no fatalities.

The wildfire has surrounded Omiš, with flames descending from the hills above the old town almost to the rooftops of houses. According to reports from the scene, the fire has also spread to the Radmanove Mlinice excursion site on the other side of Omiška Dinara. The blaze is also threatening settlements on the northern side of the hill, spreading toward Kučići and Podašpilje. 

Tourists flee

Reporters spoke to tourists who managed to take only the bare essentials with them as they fled. Marija, a young woman from Ukraine who was staying in Nemira with her family, said they went back on foot to retrieve their belongings, but had to abandon them because the fire was approaching too quickly.

“We threw everything away and ran — my mother, my sister and I,” she said.

A foreign tourist who was staying at a campsite in Omiš went for a walk on his last day of vacation. Everything he owned was destroyed in the fire, including his passport, personal belongings and climbing equipment.

According to the latest reports from the scene, the fire has also reached Fortica Fortress in Omiš, while Mirabela Fortress is not under threat for now, although the fire is spreading in that direction as well.