Image: Omiš wildfire rescue operation at sea/MMPI
A major overnight rescue operation was launched along the coast south of Split after the Omiš wildfire forced people to seek safety in the sea and climb onto available boats to escape the flames.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Rijeka, working with the Split Harbour Master’s Office and other emergency services, coordinated the operation after receiving reports of numerous people, including children, in the sea and on unattended vessels.
Rescue operation launched shortly before midnight
The first reports were received at around 11:40 pm on August 13, as the Omiš wildfire spread through coastal settlements in the area.
People threatened by the fire sought safety by entering the sea or boarding boats they found along the coast.
All available rescue vessels from the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its branches in Makarska, Milna and Hvar were deployed.
Two police boats and a Croatian Coast Guard fast response vessel also joined the operation. Customs officers assisted with another boat, while the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) deployed an inflatable vessel. Local residents and a private company operating a passenger vessel also helped with the rescue effort.
Omiš wildfire leads to rescue of 194 people between Nemira and Ruskamen
The most intensive rescue operation took place between 12:15 am and 2:45 am on August 14.
Crews from the Makarska, Milna and Hvar harbour master’s offices rescued a total of 194 people, most of them from the coastline, the sea and vessels they had boarded while trying to escape the fire.
The largest concentration of people requiring assistance was found in the area between Nemira and Ruskamen.
The final number of people rescued from the sea and the coastline affected by the Omiš wildfire has not yet been established, as other emergency services, private citizens and companies were also involved in rescue operations.
Maritime crews continue monitoring the coastline
After the immediate situation eased, officers from the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its local branches continued to patrol the affected coastal area as a precaution.
Monitoring will continue throughout the day in coordination with MRCC Rijeka as emergency operations continue.
