{
  "id": 7094456,
  "title": "Croatia: 'Monster' fire triggers evacuation on Brac island",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/croatia-monster-fire-triggers-evacuation-on-brac-island",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T10:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/croatia-monster-fire-triggers-evacuation-on-brac-island/a-79250480?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nearly 700 residents were evacuated due to a wildfire on Brac Island, Croatia, on Sunday evening. Firefighters worked tirelessly to safeguard homes and tourist accommodations from the advancing blaze, with the situation proving particularly dire near the town of Milna on the western coast. Milna Mayor Frane Lozic expressed disbelief at the fire's rapid destruction, stating, \"Last night was a disaster. It was simply impossible.\"\n\nThe initial fire report came on Thursday, but firefighting efforts faced challenges due to the island's rugged terrain. Despite believing the situation was under control by Saturday, a sudden sea wind at 9 p.m. reignited the blaze, catching authorities off guard. Tourist ships played a crucial role in the rescue mission, with many tourists spending the night at the beach awaiting evacuation.\n\nWhile no deaths were reported, a 76-year-old Croatian woman was hospitalized in critical condition after falling off a ship during the evacuation process. A 27-year-old man also required medical attention for smoke inhalation and was subsequently released. The fire is estimated to have affected around 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) of land, causing damage to several buildings, though a comprehensive assessment of the damage is still pending.\n\nAs of Sunday morning, Croatian authorities reported that no further open fires existed, but teams remained on-site to prevent any potential reignition. Four specialized firefighting planes are currently active in the area. High-level meetings involving government ministers, the head of Croatia's national firefighting service, and local officials are scheduled to take place this afternoon to provide more insights into the incident.",
  "summary": "A rapidly spreading wildfire threatened homes and tourist accommodations on the Croatian island of Brac, with firefighters battling the blaze overnight.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly 700 residents evacuated due to wildfire on Brac Island, Croatia.",
    "Fire reignited at 9 p.m. despite authorities believing it was under control.",
    "Four specialized firefighting planes active to prevent potential reignition."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7094456.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Croatia: 'Monster' fire triggers evacuation on Brac island",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/croatia-monster-fire-triggers-evacuation-on-brac-island-7098246",
        "published": "2026-09-13T10:55:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Hundreds flee Croatia island fire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/hundreds-flee-croatia-island-fire",
        "published": "2026-09-13T15:31:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "About 500 evacuated as wildfire rages on Croatian island of Brac",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/about-500-evacuated-as-wildfire-rages-on-croatian-island-of-brac",
        "published": "2026-09-13T18:35:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}