The devastating wildfire that tore through the wider Omiš area in August has caused more than €110 million in damage, according to preliminary estimates – making it one of the most costly fires to hit Croatia this year.
Omiš Mayor Zvonko Močić revealed the staggering figure on Thursday, although the final bill will only become clear once an expert commission has inspected individual damage claims.
Early estimates suggest around 310 buildings were damaged, including 13 commercial properties owned by legal entities.
The flames also damaged or destroyed around 110 vehicles and 50 boats, while forests, agricultural land and plantations were also caught in the inferno.
Damage Bill Tops €110 Million
The deadline for submitting claims ended on Wednesday, and authorities will now begin the painstaking process of checking the reported damage.
“The amount of around €110 million includes not only buildings, vehicles and boats, but also plantations, forests and everything else that was affected,” explained Močić.
Residents have submitted their estimated losses, but experts will now visit the affected areas and assess the claims individually before determining the final value of the damage.
The commission’s findings will provide a clearer picture of the true financial cost of a wildfire that left a trail of destruction across the Omiš area.
Questions Over Emergency Response
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the disaster has prompted questions about how the emergency was handled.
Official investigations were launched during September, while local organisations, including Volim Omiš, have called for an analysis of the evacuation process and the functioning of Croatia’s 112 emergency system.
Questions have also been raised over why the SRUUK early warning system was not activated during the emergency.
According to unofficial information, court-appointed experts are expected to complete their work and submit their findings to prosecutors and police, potentially providing answers about what caused one of Croatia’s largest fires of 2026.
‘Omiš Is Moving Forward’
Despite the enormous destruction, the mayor said life in Omiš was gradually returning to normal – and stressed that the disaster had not destroyed the city’s tourist season.
“Life is slowly returning to Omiš, the season wasn’t ruined and we had full beaches,” said Močić.
He added that city projects were continuing and that those affected by the wildfire would receive assistance, including support from the state.
But with the preliminary damage bill already exceeding €110 million, the true scale of the disaster is only now becoming clear.
For hundreds of property owners, motorists and boat owners – as well as those who lost forests and agricultural land – the recovery from August’s devastating blaze is likely to continue long after the smoke has disappeared.
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