Fire Rips Through Croatian Coastal Town, Leaving Homes and Businesses in Ashes

Lokva Rogoznica, Croatia – The acrid smell of smoke still hangs heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the wildfire that tore through this coastal community. Charred houses, melted boats, and the skeletal remains of cars litter the landscape, painting a scene of utter devastation.

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The fire is coming from all sides. Columns of cars on the road, unable to move forward or back. People fleeing in panic, leaving vehicles behind and running towards the sea... dragging their sick, throwing children into the water... It's impossible to describe.

Residents recounted harrowing escapes from the inferno, which spread with terrifying speed. One man, a veteran of war and previous fires, described the scene as unlike anything he had witnessed before. "The fire is coming from all sides," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Columns of cars on the road, unable to move forward or back. People fleeing in panic, leaving vehicles behind and running towards the sea... dragging their sick, throwing children into the water... It's impossible to describe."

Many were forced to abandon their cars and seek refuge in the sea. One woman, with her children, jumped into the water to escape the unbearable heat inside her vehicle. Another resident, Ivo Kalajžić, 70, described how he and his son-in-law fought to save their home, battling weak water pressure as flames licked at their property. "The heat became unbearable at one point," he recalled. "I had to retreat into the house. The wind turned towards me."

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The main thing is that we are alive.

While Kalajžić managed to save his house, albeit with damaged windows and cracked facade, his car and boat were lost. His family's ordeal underscored the widespread chaos, with roads blocked and escape routes cut off. Despite the immense loss of property, a prevailing sentiment of gratitude for survival echoed among those who spoke. "The main thing is that we are alive," was a common refrain, a testament to the sheer terror and the narrow escapes experienced by many.

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The heat became unbearable at one point. I had to retreat into the house. The wind turned towards me.