- Over 1,200 tourists and residents evacuated from Croatia’s Dalmatian coast due to 1,000-hectare wildfire
- Main coastal highway between Split and Dubrovnik closed, blocking critical transit links
- Greek Coast Guard rescued more than 300 people from beaches at Siviri, Halkidiki
- Fire damaged holiday apartments, cafés, restaurants, rental cars and boats in Omiš
- Separate blazes threaten mountain forests and resorts on Pelješac peninsula, Dugi Otok island and Lesbos
Severe peak-season wildfires have actively disrupted tourism across Greece and Croatia, with fast-moving blazes forcing mass evacuations, damaging resort areas, and shutting down critical travel corridors throughout the Mediterranean region. Extreme heatwaves and severe drought conditions have driven these fires, which continue to threaten coastal communities during the height of the summer tourist season. The situation has created widespread travel chaos for holidaymakers and placed significant strain on local emergency services.
In Croatia, a massive 1,000-hectare wildfire hit the Dalmatian coast, severely damaging the tourist town of Omiš and surrounding settlements like Lokva Rogoznica. Over 1,200 people, including many holidaymakers, were forced to flee the advancing flames. Approximately 1,000 displaced people are staying in local sports halls. Sections of the main coastal highway near Omiš have been completely shut down, blocking critical transit links and coach tours running between the major travel hubs of Split and Dubrovnik. The fires damaged or destroyed numerous holiday apartments, sea-facing balconies, cafés, restaurants, rental cars, and boats, heavily reducing local tourist capacity during peak demand. Firefighters are also battling blazes further along the coast on the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Dugi Otok.
In Greece, a wall of fire reaching up to 30 metres high swept into the popular northern resort town of Siviri on the forested Halkidiki peninsula. The Greek Coast Guard, alongside local fishing vessels, used boats to rescue and evacuate more than 300 tourists and residents directly from the beaches as thick smoke choked the skies. The main road linking Siviri to Kassandreia has been closed by emergency services, trapping transit to and from the local holiday resorts. Pockets of extreme fire conditions continue across the Aegean islands, with separate blazes threatening mountain forests and beach resorts on the island of Lesbos. Smoke columns are actively blanketing nearby coastal zones, and masks are highly recommended in affected areas. Transit networks and holiday rental structures are heavily compromised, and emergency services urge travellers to obey all local text alerts and evacuation protocols immediately.
Current Impact in Croatia
- Resort Damage: A massive 1,000-hectare wildfire hit the scenic Dalmatian coast, severely tearing through the picturesque tourist town of Omiš and surrounding settlements like Lokva Rogoznica.
- Evacuations: Over 1,200 people, including many holidaymakers, were forced to flee. Around 1,000 displaced people are staying in local sports halls.
- Transit Chaos: Sections of the main coastal highway near Omiš have been completely shut down. This blocks critical transit links and coach tours running between the major travel hubs of Split and Dubrovnik.
- Capacity Loss: The fires damaged or destroyed numerous holiday apartments, sea-facing balconies, cafés, restaurants, rental cars, and boats, heavily reducing local tourist capacity during peak demand.
- Other Islands: Firefighters are also battling blazes further along the coast on the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Dugi Otok.
Current Impact in Greece
- Sea Evacuations: A “wall of fire” reaching up to 30 metres high swept into the popular northern resort town of Siviri, located on the forested Halkidiki peninsula.
- Rescue Operations: The Greek Coast Guard, alongside local fishing vessels, used boats to rescue and evacuate more than 300 tourists and residents straight off the beaches as thick smoke choked the skies.
- Road Closures: The main road linking Siviri to Kassandreia has been closed by emergency services, trapping transit to and from the local holiday resorts.
- Island Alerts: Pockets of extreme fire conditions continue across the Aegean islands, with separate blazes threatening mountain forests and beach resorts on the island of Lesbos.
Tourists are advised to:
- Monitor Air Quality: Heavy smoke columns are actively blanketing nearby coastal zones; masks are highly recommended in affected areas.
- Coordinate with Operators: Reach out directly to your airline or accommodation provider, as transit networks and holiday rental structures are heavily compromised.
- Follow Civil Protection: Keep mobile devices charged and obey all local emergency text alerts or evacuation protocols immediately.
Regions affected
Wildfires have forced emergency evacuations and disrupted tourism across major European holiday destinations, including Greece, Croatia, France, Spain, and Turkey. Punishing heatwaves and severe drought have triggered massive blazes that hit peak-season coastal resorts and mountain villages.
The primary holiday resorts and tourist regions heavily impacted by the blazes include:
Greece
- Halkidiki Peninsula: The coastal resort towns of Siviri and Fourka suffered severe disruptions. A massive “wall of fire” forced the sea evacuation of hundreds of holidaymakers directly from the beaches.
- Crete: Tourist facilities and hotels in the Rethymno region—specifically around Agia Galini and Kyra Vrysi—faced large-scale evacuations due to fast-moving brush fires.
- Paros: Multiple holiday villages on this popular island were evacuated as an emergency precaution.
Croatia
- Omis (Dalmatian Coast): The picturesque resort town of Omis, located south of Split, faced an overnight inferno that engulfed local properties and forced over a thousand tourists and residents to flee to emergency shelters.
- Lokva Rogoznica: This popular beachfront area along the Adriatic coast experienced severe wildfire threats, leading to highway closures and tourist flight.
France
- Gironde & Arcachon Bay: Major blazes forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from popular Atlantic coast holiday spots, including the upscale peninsula of Cap Ferret. More than 60 holiday campsites in the region had to be cleared.
- Landes Region: Tourism in Lacanau and Biscarrosse faced widespread disruption, while the village of Luglon saw hundreds of emergency evacuations.
Spain
- Sierra Oeste: Vacation spots and rural tourist zones near Madrid required heavy firefighting deployments to bring aggressive blazes under control.
- Regional Hotspots: Wildfires also disrupted tourist areas across Castile and León, Galicia, Aragón, Extremadura, and the Canary Islands.
Turkey
- Aegean & Mediterranean Regions: Popular sun-and-sea holiday areas, including Seydikemer, faced intense blazes that required emergency ferry evacuations for trapped holidaymakers.
