Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Croatia and Greece

A major wildfire in Croatia has left dozens of people injured and forced thousands to evacuate, as fires continue to sweep across parts of southern Europe this summer.

The blaze, which has affected both residential areas and tourist resorts, prompted emergency authorities to move residents and holidaymakers to safety. Similar scenes have unfolded in Greece, where hundreds of people were also evacuated from coastal resorts due to separate wildfires.

At least 10 people injured in the Croatian fire are currently in intensive care, according to hospital reports, indicating the severity of their injuries. The scale of casualties highlights how quickly the fire spread through populated areas.

Firefighters have been deployed to contain the flames, but their efforts are being complicated by a combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds — a mix that has become increasingly common during European summers in recent years.

Meteorologists have pointed to an ongoing heatwave as a key factor behind the rapid spread of fires this season, with dry vegetation acting as fuel across multiple countries simultaneously.

Local authorities in both Croatia and Greece have activated emergency response plans, setting up shelters and coordinating with emergency services to manage the evacuations. Officials have urged the public to follow safety instructions and avoid affected zones.

While the exact cause of the Croatian fire has not yet been officially confirmed, experts note that combinations of extreme heat and dry landscapes often create conditions in which wildfires ignite and spread more easily.

The wider pattern of wildfires across the region has renewed concerns about how rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells may be increasing the frequency and intensity of such events, particularly in popular tourist destinations during peak season.