One person dies as huge fire destroys buildings in Croatian city of Split

Hundreds of soldiers and firefighters were today battling forest fires on the Adriatic coast that have destroyed buildings near the city of Split.

The largest fire reached the Croatian port’s suburbs after spreading 13 miles and destroying homes, a nursery and a cemetery. One person was known to have died.

Around 20 smaller fires were burning in Dalmatia in the south, which is largely covered by pine forest and scrubland.

Visitors were evacuated from two shopping malls and residents have been warned to stay away from petrol stations. Around the town of Zadar, planes were used to dump water on the flames as there are still active minefields in the area from the Balkans war in the Nineties.

Prime minister Andrej Plenkovi said Croatia was considering asking for EU assistance. Neighbouring Montenegro has also asked for international help to fight the fires on the Adriatic coast.