Prime Minister visits fire-hit Korcula island

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Tuesday visited the southern island of Korcula, hit by major wildfires, saying Croatia was doing quite well in terms of fire-fighting equipment and aircraft, and that its firemen were brave and expert, but that this was not enough against the elements.

"There were no wildfires last year. This year they have started and there will be more. This is just the beginning. We must be ready (in terms of) equipment, manpower," he told reporters.

Asked if the government would help those who lost their property in the fire, he said the people in Korcula were insured and that the government would help if necessary. He underlined the importance of insuring property in areas vulnerable to wildfires.

Milanovic recalled the disastrous flood in Gunja of a year ago, saying "the government practically did everything" in dealing with the aftermath.

He said Croatia had enough manpower and equipment to put out wildfires but underlined the importance of precaution. He also recalled that summer was the time of year when firefighters were busiest because of wildfires along the coast.

Milanovic would not comment on what caused the latest wildfires, saying it would be "irresponsible... Either nature or man. If it wasn't prevented, it's important to clean up."

He was joined by Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic. Asked if it was not strange that two fires broke out within 20 minutes of each other, he said "there's no need for stories and speculation. Police will deal with that. Now it's important to prevent casualties. The most important thing is that there have been no casualties."

Wildfires broke out on Korcula on Saturday afternoon, burning 500 hectares of forest, and on Peljesac peninsula on Monday afternoon, burning more than 400 hectares of land.

Milanovic and Ostojic were accompanied by Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic.

Because of the wildfires on Korcula and Peljesac, Croatian member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula has requested assistance from the European Commission, it was said on Tuesday.

As the vice president of the Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas Intergroup, he asked the Commission if, apart from mobilising the Solidarity Fund, it intended to urgently send equipment and fire protection.

The situation on the ground is dramatic, as firefighters can't vouch for houses, and neither of the two fires, despite superhuman effort and the use of every capacity, has been contained, Picula wrote the Commission.

All endangered places in Korcula have been evacuated and more than 850 hectares of soil has burned down, while 2 km of forest is burning on Peljesac, he wrote, adding that extremely high temperatures and drought were not helping, and that power was out and phone lines were down.
(Text: Hina)

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