Wildfires have struck several of Europe’s busiest tourist regions this week, forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate as prolonged heat, drought and strong winds create dangerous fire conditions.
Croatia has been among the hardest-hit countries, with major fires affecting Omiš, the Pelješac peninsula, Trogir and areas near Zadar.
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A wildfire descended toward the Adriatic tourist town of Omiš overnight, burning homes and forcing around 1,000 people to evacuate. Emergency shelters were opened along the coast toward Split.
Around 36 people were treated by ambulance services in Split, about 25 km (15.5 miles) north of Omiš. Fourteen were hospitalized and seven were reported to have life-threatening injuries.
Strong winds are the main driver beind the fires
Another major wildfire erupted Friday morning near Kuna Pelješka on the Pelješac peninsula.
The fire spread through grass, scrub and pine forest, initially advancing toward Potomje before shifting direction as winds changed toward Orebić.
Around 250 firefighters with 73 vehicles were deployed, supported by four Canadair aircraft and an Air Tractor. Reinforcements arrived from several Croatian regions.
Strong bora winds and exceptionally dry vegetation made firefighting difficult, while the steep terrain limited access for ground crews.
By early evening, crews had largely contained the fire on the northern side of the peninsula and were focusing on preventing further spread toward Potomje and Orebić.
No major evacuations had been ordered, although a monastery in Kuna Pelješka was evacuated as a precaution. In Potomje, flames destroyed the wooden roof of a church.
The DC414 road between Prizdrina and Potomje was closed, forcing tourists toward ferry services. Jadrolinija began running the Ploče-Trpanj ferry continuously because of the disruption.
Hrvatska vojska od ranih jutarnjih sati angažirana je na gašenju velikih požara diljem 🇭🇷: tijekom cijelog dana na terenu su protupožarne zrakoplovne snage #HRZ i Obalna straža #HRM❗️
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Na području Omiša, Pelješca i Zadra požare gase vojni piloti Hrvatskog ratnog zrakoplovstva s… pic.twitter.com/SxcIofUV0t
Separate fires also broke out above Trogir and near Ninski Stanovi outside Zadar, where around 60 firefighters and 18 vehicles were deployed alongside firefighting aircraft.
Another fire remained active on the Dinara mountain range near the Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border.
Residents and Tourists were evacuated in Greece, France and Spain
In northern Greece, hundreds of holidaymakers fled the Halkidiki resort area on Thursday as a wildfire advanced toward the coast near Siviri.
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France also ordered new evacuations in the southwest, where 525 people were moved from Luglon in the Landes region.
A forest fire is raging today in Luglon, Aquitaine, France, where around 1,100 hectares of vegetation have been affected. Approximately 500 firefighters have been mobilized to battle the blaze. pic.twitter.com/42q19J9PwP
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) August 14, 2026
The latest blaze developed not far from Arcachon Bay, where two major wildfires earlier this summer burned more than 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) and forced as many as 220,000 people to evacuate.
In western Germany, more than 2,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire near the Belgian border spread toward a village.
The ingredients for the so -called “Fire Weather”
The fires are developing after repeated heatwaves and prolonged dry weather across southern Europe and the Balkans.
Heat alone does not cause wildfires, but extended periods of high temperatures increase evaporation and dry soils, grasses and forests. Once vegetation loses enough moisture, fires can ignite more easily and spread much faster.
Strong winds can then rapidly intensify the danger by pushing flames across dry terrain and carrying burning embers ahead of the main fire front.
That combination has been particularly evident in Croatia, where very dry vegetation and shifting bora winds have repeatedly complicated firefighting efforts.
With August bringing both peak tourism and some of Europe’s highest seasonal wildfire risk, authorities remain on alert as hot, dry and windy conditions continue across several parts of the continent.
