Two huge fires are stretching Croatian firefighters to their limits on the Adriatic coast.
Firefighters are battling a fire in Istria, near the Učka mountain, as well as one on the Pelješac peninsula. Fires also broke out on the nearby islands of Korčula and Brač, but are now mostly under control.
The fires forced the evacuation of villages and destroyed large areas of olive groves, pine forests and vineyards. The blaze occasionally cut off the main road and power supplies since it erupted earlier this week.
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The Pelješac peninsula is facing the biggest blaze, in which hundreds of residents and tourists have been evacuated.
Hot winds and high summer temperatures have undermined efforts by volunteers, military and firefighters, backed by planes and helicopters.
#Croatian Islands #Korčula #Pelješac are burning again. My heart breaks at this! #Croatia #fire pic.twitter.com/xr1aWy9yTf— Ivana D. (@Rascal207) July 22, 2015
#Korčula ,#Pelješac, danes. Via @miha101 #croatia #fire #island pic.twitter.com/Dq5koUlvWH— Slovenia express (@skyslovenia) July 22, 2015
Incendie Croatie Croatia Burn Canadair feu de forêt Pompier Fire Brigad Old school Fire Truck Camion Citerne pic.twitter.com/pFQc9GDrZo— RG (@Romain_G_FRA069) July 22, 2015
Firefighters tasked with battling blazes in record heat are finding rest whenever -- and wherever -- they can.
Nearly 13 million tourists visited Croatia in 2014. So far this year, tourism is up 7%, according to Minister of Tourism Darko Lorencin. But while fires have caused disruption, there are still many other areas along the coast where tourists can visit.
Big fire on #Korčula Island on Croatia pic.twitter.com/SN9a5TVQhS— Ales Gabrijel (@AlesGabrijel) July 18, 2015
Police said they detained a 24-year-old woman suspected of deliberately setting several small fires on Korčula. However, the cause of some fires is natural, with at least 12 fires started by Thursday's thunderstorm, according to Croatia's National Protection and Rescue Directorate.
Stan Schroeder contributed to this report. Additional reporting by the Associated Press