Rain aids firefighters battling severe wildfire on Korčula island

Overnight rain provided crucial assistance to firefighters battling a devastating wildfire on the Croatian island of Korčula, significantly slowing the fire's advance and offering relief to exhausted crews. The blaze, which erupted Saturday afternoon in the Kapje area between Blato and Smokvica, spread rapidly through dense pine forests.

Despite the timely rainfall, the consequences of the fire are severe. Large swathes of land around Smokvica are now a landscape of blackened trees, destroyed vegetation, and ash. At its peak, the fire front extended over three kilometers, fueled by strong winds and challenging terrain. The onset of night forced the suspension of aerial firefighting efforts.

Around 160 firefighters from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County were on site throughout Saturday evening, bolstered by reinforcements from Zagreb and other counties. While three water-bombing aircraft operated during the day, four more were scheduled for Sunday morning. The fire, which began during a thunderstorm, prompted the closure of the main road connecting Korčula and Vela Luka, necessitating detours. Although houses were not directly threatened, emergency services remained vigilant throughout the night to prevent any resurgence of the flames.