ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - Most of the fires that raged along the Croatian Adriatic coast this month were planted, Interior Minister Sime Lucin told a government session on Thursday, adding that two perpetrators had been arrested and
remanded in custody.
ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - Most of the fires that raged along the
Croatian Adriatic coast this month were planted, Interior Minister
Sime Lucin told a government session on Thursday, adding that two
perpetrators had been arrested and remanded in custody. #L#
"Some fires were obviously caused intentionally because they broke
out during the day when it was least expected," he said.
Lucin said that a fire that had broken out near the northern
Adriatic city of Rijeka was contained at about 1000 hours today.
About 100 hectares of forest and underbrush has been consumed in the
blaze.
Lucin said that a fire was still burning in Dubrovnik County near
the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, from where it had spread to the
Croatian side.
Fire marshal Mladen Jurin said that as many as 359 fires had been
registered in the first 20 days of July and that the causes of 186
fires had not been officially established.
According to statements by members of the public, a large number of
fires broke out at several locations at the same time, which
suggests they were planted, Jurin said.
Jurin stressed that 80 percent of the fires were the result of
negligent behaviour on the part of local residents.
"The public awareness of fire threat along the coast is obviously
very low," he concluded.
(hina) vm