Wildfires Sweep Across Europe as Croatia, France and Germany Order Major Evacuations

OMIS/LUGLON/HURTGENWALD — Firefighters across Europe are battling a widening series of wildfires fuelled by prolonged heat, drought and strong winds.

One of the most serious incidents overnight struck the Croatian tourist town of Omis on the Dalmatian coast.

Flames spread across more than 1,000 hectares, engulfing woodland and homes and forcing approximately 1,000 residents and tourists into emergency shelters.

Thirty-six people received treatment from ambulance services. Fourteen were admitted to hospital and seven were reported to have life-threatening injuries.

Croatian authorities deployed 286 firefighters, 90 vehicles and four aircraft to fight the blaze.

By Friday morning, the main Omis fire had calmed, allowing aircraft and crews to be moved towards another wildfire on the Peljesac peninsula.

France is confronting another emergency in its southwestern Landes region.

Authorities evacuated 525 residents from Luglon after flames approached within about two kilometres of the village centre.

The wildfire has already burned approximately 1,100 hectares, with around 500 firefighters and six aircraft working to contain it.

Landes contains extensive pine forests that become extremely combustible during dry weather.

France has experienced an exceptionally destructive wildfire season, with the total area burned already surpassing the previous national record set in 2022.

Germany is also facing a serious outbreak near its border with Belgium.

More than 2,000 residents were evacuated from Gey in western Germany after flames moved to within several hundred metres of the village.

Firefighters face the added danger of unexploded Second World War ammunition in parts of the forest. Occasional explosions have reportedly been heard as the blaze advances through uncleared areas.

In Greece, hundreds of tourists and residents previously fled the northern resort area around Siviri, some escaping by boat as flames moved towards the coastline.

The simultaneous emergencies illustrate how Europe's prolonged heat is stretching firefighting capacity, threatening major tourism regions and putting additional pressure on government disaster budgets.

Berean News status: Developing. Casualty and evacuation figures are civil-protection totals and remain subject to revision.