DIVULJE, Aug 24 (Hina) - Croatia's Interior Minister Sime Lucin on Thursday evening said all means at disposal for extinguishing fires in Croatia were being used. Speaking at a news conference in Divulje outside Split, Minister Lucin
said seven fire-fighting planes were being engaged, and, for instance, in Split-Dalmatia County where over a score fires were blazing on Thursday afternoon, 1,000 fire-fighters, Croatian Army troops and special policemen were being deployed. He informed that the situation was more or less under control considering most of fire sites in this southern county. In the evening the most dramatic situation was in the area of Lokve-Rogoznica near Omis where the blaze erupted at about 11.00 am today and injures were reported this afternoon. Split County Police superintendent Ranko Ostojic informed Minister Lucin that everything was prepared for possible evacuation of the pop
DIVULJE, Aug 24 (Hina) - Croatia's Interior Minister Sime Lucin on
Thursday evening said all means at disposal for extinguishing fires
in Croatia were being used.
Speaking at a news conference in Divulje outside Split, Minister
Lucin said seven fire-fighting planes were being engaged, and, for
instance, in Split-Dalmatia County where over a score fires were
blazing on Thursday afternoon, 1,000 fire-fighters, Croatian Army
troops and special policemen were being deployed.
He informed that the situation was more or less under control
considering most of fire sites in this southern county.
In the evening the most dramatic situation was in the area of Lokve-
Rogoznica near Omis where the blaze erupted at about 11.00 am today
and injures were reported this afternoon.
Split County Police superintendent Ranko Ostojic informed Minister
Lucin that everything was prepared for possible evacuation of the
population from Lokva-Rogoznica and from Seget (between Split and
Trogir). He also appealed on locals for take care of their lives
rather than property in case they must be evacuated.
"Unfortunately, a young boy lost his life and I express my
condolences to his family" Minister Lucin said.
The fire in Zrnovnica, outside Split, which has been blazing for two
days, claimed one life on Thursday afternoon. The victim was a 18-
year old boy who was not engaged in attempts to put the fire out but
who approached the site out of curiosity. He was taken to the
hospital but his injuries were so serious that he died.
Commenting on causes of fires, Lucin said that only for the fire
near Drnis (Split hinterland) there was evidence that it was
deliberate arson, and the perpetrator was arrested. As regards
other fire sites he said it was too early to comment on causes.
"What our fire-fighters now badly need is more fire-fighting
planes. That's why we have contacted Italy and France.
Unfortunately, fires are devastating some parts of Italy, and six
have broken out only in Ancona. We are still waiting for response
from France," the minister said adding that the entire
Mediterranean is battling huge fires.
A crisis centre has been set up, the task of which is to co-ordinate
attempts to put fires out in the sea-side area. The head of this
centre is Mladen Jurin the fire-fighting chief commander in
Croatia.
(hina) ms