More than a hundred firefighters supported by water bombers were engaged against a forest fire near the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, a historical and tourist hotspot, said Wednesday (July 26th) the national association of firefighters.
This fire, a dozen kilometers from the famous medieval city, started late Monday in the municipality of Zupa Dubrovacka, but has so far not led to any evacuation among the population. About 130 firefighters are trying to contain the flames, fanned by strong winds during the day Tuesday.
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Mine explosion
This fire comes as high temperatures and wind cause a series of catastrophic fires in several regions around the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece or Sicily. According to local media reports, the fire also detonated mines laid during the conflict that followed the dismantling of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian forces at the time, causing damage in several areas of the city, while mines are still present in the vicinity.
The port city that dates back to the 7th century, now a UNESCO protected site, is rich in churches, palaces and fountains. Particularly popular for cruises, Dubrovnik attracts more than a million tourists each year. The city surrounded by ramparts overlooking the Adriatic has gained further notoriety in recent years with the filming of sequences of the HBO series Game of Thrones.