Korčula Wildfire Improves but Cleanup Expected to Take Days

Firefighting efforts continue on the island of Korčula, Croatia, where a significant wildfire is burning between the towns of Blato and Smokvica. Although the situation has improved significantly by Sunday evening, the blaze remains uncontained, and officials anticipate that the cleanup phase will extend for several days.

Slavko Tucaković, the chief fire commander, described the terrain as extremely challenging, characterized by dense vegetation. He noted that the area and the fire's front are extensive. Aerial reconnaissance from a Croatian Air Force helicopter provided a clearer view of the fire's spread.

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The cleanup of the fire site will surely take several days.

Reinforcements have arrived to bolster the firefighting capacity. A total of 270 firefighters, operating 72 vehicles, are currently engaged. This includes 84 firefighters with 24 vehicles arriving from Krapinsko-zagorska and Zagreb counties, alongside the City of Zagreb. Aerial support includes three Canadair aircraft and one Air Tractor.

In total, the fire has scorched approximately 550 hectares of grass, low vegetation, maquis, and pine forest. The response involves 186 firefighters with 48 vehicles from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Fire Brigade and the Dubrovnik Intervention Fire Unit. Firefighters experienced a particularly busy weekend, responding to 262 incidents across Croatia in 48 hours.

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It was quite a fiery weekend and exhausting for all firefighters.