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Several Balkan countries have been grappling with large wildfires this summer, with Croatia being the latest to join the list. Croatian firefighters in a small town near Split worked tirelessly through the night to prevent a massive blaze from escalating and threatening homes. Fire Chief Slavko Tucakovic stated that 250 firefighters, along with Canadair planes, were on the scene in Žrnovnica to battle the fire. The waterbombing aircrafts were also aiding in extinguishing a nearby fire in Gornja Podstrana, which had already burned 700 hectares of land.
The wildfire was initially sparked by a lightning storm on Monday and was further fueled by strong winds on Tuesday. This comes as other Balkan countries like Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia have also been dealing with destructive blazes this summer. Experts are warning that the Mediterranean region will continue to face the impacts of the climate crisis, with rising temperatures and prolonged droughts contributing to the severity of wildfires.
The Croatian Firefighting Association reported that the fire had already consumed grass, low vegetation, and forest in the area. As climate change continues to pose challenges for countries in the region, it is imperative for authorities to be prepared for more extreme weather events and prioritize efforts to combat the increasing risk of wildfires.
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