- by croatiaweek
- September 13, 2026
- in
(Photo: Vatrogasci – 193/Facebook)
Around 700 people were evacuated from Brač island by sea overnight after a major wildfire threatened the wider area around Milna on the island’s western coast.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Rijeka (MRCC Rijeka), working with the Split Harbour Master’s Office, coordinated a major maritime rescue and evacuation operation after reports of large numbers of people attempting to escape the advancing fire.
The operation began at 9:56pm on Saturday, 12 September, following reports of people in danger along the western side of Brač as the fire threatened to spread towards the wider Milna area.
A total of four rescue boats from the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its stations in Milna, Hvar and Makarska were deployed. They were joined by three vessels from Split’s maritime and airport police station, one ship and two boats from the Croatian Coast Guard, two Brodospas tugboats, two pilot boats, several Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) boats, two tourist vessels and numerous private boats.
Medical personnel were also arranged to board the rescue vessels in cooperation with the Split-Dalmatia County emergency medical service, allowing medical assistance to be provided if required.
As the number of people fleeing the fire increased, the Croatian Armed Forces vessel Omiš was deployed shortly after midnight to provide reception and further assistance to people evacuated from the Osibova bay area. Two fast Modrulj-class boats were also involved.
According to a preliminary assessment by the Split Harbour Master’s Office, around 200 people, including children and elderly and vulnerable persons, were in potentially dangerous situations as the fire approached.
Of these, 185 people were transported by rescue vessels operated by the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its associated stations.
(Photo: Lučka kapetanija Split)
By 4am on Sunday, tourist boats involved in the operation had evacuated a further 500 people, bringing the total number evacuated by sea to around 700.
Following the evacuation, crews from the Split Harbour Master’s Office continued searching the fire-affected coastline and surrounding Brač archipelago under searchlights to check for anyone who might still require assistance.
(Photo: Lučka kapetanija Split)
The coordinated rescue operation is continuing at full capacity while there remains an immediate threat to people in the fire-affected areas.
Authorities are maintaining communication with the Split County 112 emergency centre and maritime police as monitoring and rescue operations continue.
More about the fire here