Hundreds of people, including British tourists, were evacuated from Croatia's Brač island after a major wildfire, with some forced to flee into the sea on paddleboards to escape a 'wall of flames' near the Gava Waterman Milna Resort.
A major wildfire on Croatia's Brač island forced the evacuation of approximately 500 people, including British tourists staying at the Gava Waterman Milna Resort. Guests like Josh Robbins recounted a terrifying escape, describing a 'wall of flames' closing in and being showered by burning embers, leading them to run for their lives. After power outages and alleged lack of clear instructions, guests, including Robbins and his fiancée Shelby A’Court, had to force open electric doors to exit. Many, including Ms. A’Court, resorted to fleeing into the sea on paddleboards to reach rescue boats, describing it as 'a matter of life and death.' Some tourists accused the resort of abandoning them, an allegation the Gava Waterman Milna Resort denied, stating the wildfire was 'exceptionally fast-moving' with severe visibility issues, and praised their staff's courage. The mayor of Milna described the fire as a 'disaster,' which authorities believe burned around 3,500 hectares. This incident contributes to Croatia experiencing its worst year for wildfires since 2022, part of a devastating summer for wildfires across Europe, with approximately 700,000 hectares burned across the EU in 2026 (as per the article's text).
