DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRES EXCEEDS 424 MILLION KUNA - CROATIAN FORESTS

( Editorial: --> 5579 ) SPLIT, Aug 24 (Hina) - According to the latest information from the Croatian Forests in Split, 13,001 hectares of forest and agricultural and other land was burnt in six large fires which broke out in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in the first half of August. The fires did most damage to forests - 8,786 hectares of forest was consumed by fires. Of that number, 6,716 hectares of forest were privately owned. The damage has been estimated at 424,200,000 kuna, said Ivan Tolic, head of the Split Forests' environment department. The largest areas destroyed by fire are on the island of Korcula (5,500 hectares), Konavle area (2,392), Peljesac peninsula (2,234), Lastovo island (1,764) and Mokosica (1,111). The Croatian Forests will renew those areas which are not privately owned, Tolic said. (hina) rml 241532 MET aug 98