At least 58 Hungarian citizens have been evacuated from areas affected by the devastating wildfire on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said on Friday.
Around 45 of those evacuated were accommodated in a sports hall, while another 13 were taken to a separate location. Croatian authorities and the Red Cross are providing them with assistance. The wildfire broke out near Omiš on Thursday evening and spread rapidly through dry vegetation and pine forest before reaching residential areas.
One Hungarian tourist injured
According to the Foreign Ministry, one Hungarian citizen was taken to a hospital in Split with a minor limb injury. No other Hungarian injuries are currently known. The Hungarian consular service remains in contact with the hospital and is monitoring the situation in case additional Hungarian citizens require medical assistance.
Hungarian consular officials spent the entire night responding to calls from citizens in the affected area and contacting people registered for consular protection. The exact number of Hungarians seeking consular assistance is not yet known, as officials are still contacting affected citizens individually to establish what help they require.
The ministry’s 24-hour consular emergency number is +36 80 36 80 36.
Seven Hungarians escaped on foot
The requests for assistance have mainly concerned evacuation, accommodation, safe onward travel and personal belongings or vehicles left behind.
Two Hungarian families, consisting of seven people in total, reportedly had to escape the affected area on foot. Their vehicles may have been destroyed by the fire, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Two Hungarian police officers currently serving in Zadar are also assisting with the consular response. Following consultations with Hungary’s Interior Ministry, they have been asked to remain in the area and continue supporting the operation. Their accommodation is being provided by Hungary’s embassy in Zagreb.
More information on the wildfire: Hungarian tourists flee as huge wildfire engulfs Croatian coast near Omiš
Minibuses sent from Hungary
Two minibuses have been sent from Hungary to collect the 13 Hungarian citizens evacuated to the second location. The Hungarian embassy in Zagreb and the Consular Service are currently contacting all known Hungarian citizens affected by the fire, assessing their individual needs and coordinating with Croatian authorities.
Where necessary, Hungarian officials will also help organise onward travel, accommodation and other consular assistance.
Fire contained, but firefighting continues
According to Anita Orbán, Croatian authorities have managed to prevent the fire from spreading further, although firefighting operations are continuing with the assistance of specialised aircraft. No further evacuations are currently known to have taken place.
The wildfire near Omiš forced around 1,000 residents and tourists to flee the affected area. At least 36 people were injured, seven of them in life-threatening condition.
The fire spread to residential areas overnight amid strong winds, causing significant disruption along the popular Dalmatian coast. Hungarians still in the affected region are advised to follow instructions from Croatian authorities and contact the Hungarian Consular Service if they require assistance.
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