Over 1,200 tourists and locals evacuated from holiday hotspot as huge wildfire inferno spreads quickly killing one

HELL-LIKE infernos have torn across Croatia’s coastline killing one and forcing thousands to urgently evacuate. Spreading at “lightning speed,” the catastrophic blazes were captured in harrowing footage that defies belief, marking what is thought to be the most severe fire in the country’s history. Horrendous blazes ravaged the Croatian coastline Credit: AP Thousands fled the huge fire-stricken area Credit: AP Around 1,200 terrified holidaymakers and locals were evacuated – forced to stay the night in emergency shelters. Some desperate individuals escaped into the sea from boats near the coastline to escape the fire. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The inferno broke out near the coastal village of Lokva Rogoznica on Thursday evening. It quickly spread to the nearby tourist town of Omis and eventually reached villages near the popular Brit holiday spot Split. Over 1,000 hectares of land in just four hours Credit: AFP One person has died and seven people are fighting for their lives in hospital Credit: AFP The destructive firestorm burnt through “everything in their path”, according to Croatia‘s fire chief Slavko Tucakovic who described it as “one of the worst” blazes in the country’s history. Officials confirmed flames, exacerbated by strong winds, engulfed 1,000 hectares of land in just four hours. One person was confirmed dead after firefighters discovered a body at an area ravaged by the blaze. Ten people are fighting for their lives as a total of 14 victims were hospitalised and 40 injured. Most read in The Sun Ash-covered debris has been left in the area Credit: Alamy Firefighting aircraft is deployed to battle wildfire near Omis Credit: Getty Over 300 fire personal fought the flames with the blaze so intense at points, crews were forced to retreat. Footage shared online shows thick smoke and huge flames tearing through surrounding landscape, turning the sky orange, as dumbfounded residents and tourists looked on. Roads were gridlocked with motorists attempting to flee while bright orange flames licked in the near distance. Praising the work of the hero firefighters who toiled throughout the night and morning, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said what they achieved was “truly a miracle”. Later on Friday Plenkovic visited the incinerated epicentre near Omis. The flammable pine forests lining the Croatian hillside compounded the already complex firefighting response. The Commander of Omis Volunteer Fire Department, Viseslav Pesic told Reuters the blaze was so intense that people had abandoned vehicles “directly in the fire zone”, making it difficult for emergency crews to pass through. Extensive damage was inflicted on homes, cars and the landscape. It comes as devastating wildfires struck the Halkidiki peninsula, Greece, on Thursday. Hundreds of people were evacuated from beaches as a “wall of flames” threatened two tourists resorts. Comment now