Post by Marija on Aug 1, 2003 10:53:41 GMT 1
Fires continue to ravage Croatia's Adriatic coast
ZAGREB (AFP) Jul 31, 2003
Forest fires continued Thursday to rage along Croatia's Adriatic coast, destroying some 2,000 hectares (4,600 acres) of pinewood and bushes on the southern islands of Brac and Hvar, officials said.
Several hundred firefighters backed by soldiers and four water-dropping planes struggled for the third consecutive day to contain fires fanned by strong winds on the two biggest islands in Split county.
A fire that came within seven kilometers (four miles) of the tourist resort of Hvar was still burning but had been stabilized, firefighters in the town said.
But in three separate areas on the island of Hvar and in the eastern part of the island of Brac fires were still not under control.
Croatian Interior Minister Sime Lucin said recently that most of over 300 fires which broke out since the beginning of July following the country's worst drought in 50 years were caused by arson.
So far two suspects have been detained in connection with fires.
Authorities voiced concern that the drought could threaten the key tourism industry as some resorts faced the prospect of water shortages during the peak of the season in August.
The three-month-long drought has hit notably notably grain, corn crops, vineyards as well as orchards and olive groves.
BUT PLEASE NOTE - NO TOURISTS ARE UN ANY DANGER!
ZAGREB (AFP) Jul 31, 2003
Forest fires continued Thursday to rage along Croatia's Adriatic coast, destroying some 2,000 hectares (4,600 acres) of pinewood and bushes on the southern islands of Brac and Hvar, officials said.
Several hundred firefighters backed by soldiers and four water-dropping planes struggled for the third consecutive day to contain fires fanned by strong winds on the two biggest islands in Split county.
A fire that came within seven kilometers (four miles) of the tourist resort of Hvar was still burning but had been stabilized, firefighters in the town said.
But in three separate areas on the island of Hvar and in the eastern part of the island of Brac fires were still not under control.
Croatian Interior Minister Sime Lucin said recently that most of over 300 fires which broke out since the beginning of July following the country's worst drought in 50 years were caused by arson.
So far two suspects have been detained in connection with fires.
Authorities voiced concern that the drought could threaten the key tourism industry as some resorts faced the prospect of water shortages during the peak of the season in August.
The three-month-long drought has hit notably notably grain, corn crops, vineyards as well as orchards and olive groves.
BUT PLEASE NOTE - NO TOURISTS ARE UN ANY DANGER!
