Influencer shocked by roadside scenes: "After the madness in Omis, I can't believe what I'm seeing"
Influencer Josip Banovac, while walking to Sinj for the celebration of the Assumption of Mary, was shocked by the sight along the road and posted a video on TikTok warning about irresponsible behavior. He noticed many discarded, still burning cigarette butts, which disturbed him especially after the recent fire in Omis. The strong wind during his walk increased the risk of fire spreading. His concerns come at a sensitive time as Dalmatia is still recovering from a catastrophic fire that broke out in the area of Lokva Rogoznica and spread towards Omis overnight. The fire threatened many homes and other buildings, forcing the evacuation of numerous residents and tourists. The fire left devastation and significant material damage, including burned houses, cars, and boats, and a body was found in the affected area. Many people sought medical attention due to the effects of the fire, with some hospitalized and several patients suffering severe burns and being in life-threatening condition. The main fire chief described the fire in the Omis area as one of the worst he has experienced in his career, estimating that the fire covered around 1000 hectares of vegetation and forest.
Lejdi Perković Jarnec, a make-up artist and niece of singer Marko Perković Thompson, shared emotional reflections on her pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Miraculous Mother of God in Sinj during the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her Instagram post, accompanied by a series of photographs capturing each stage of her journey, detailed a night-long trek through the region, including moments of rest with a crown in hand and the arrival at dawn. The experience reflected centuries-old tradition, as thousands of faithful undertake the pilgrimage annually to honor the Virgin Mary. Perković Jarnec described the pilgrimage as physically demanding, noting moments when she doubted whether she could continue. However, upon reaching the shrine, she felt a profound sense of peace and gratitude. “All the hardship seemed to vanish for a moment,” she wrote. She expressed deep appreciation to the Virgin for granting her strength and protection throughout the journey. “Miraculous Mother of God in Sinj, thank you for giving me strength when it was hardest, for protecting me at every step, and for always being there for me.” Her post received widespread support from followers who left messages of encouragement, hearts, and prayers. One comment read, “In my hometown, may our beloved Mother, the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, protect you and your dearest. Amen!” Another follower added, “May the Virgin Mary hear your prayers and bless you.” Meanwhile, another pilgrim, Split-based influencer Josip Banovac, encountered alarming scenes along the road to Sinj. During his pilgrimage, he documented footage on TikTok showing numerous discarded cigarettes still burning, which deeply unsettled him, especially considering the recent wildfires in the Omis area. “We’re walking to Sinj, and after all the chaos in Omis and this huge fire where people suffered and property was lost, every ten meters someone throws away a lit cigarette,” he told his followers. The strong wind blowing during the pilgrimage further increased concerns about potential fires. “I can’t believe what we’re seeing right now. Look at how much it’s smoking. May God forbid anything goes wrong on the side, and the whole Klis area will be engulfed,” he warned. Banovac's warning comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Dalmatia is still recovering from a catastrophic fire that broke out late Thursday evening in the area of Lokva Rogoznica and spread rapidly due to strong winds overnight towards Omis. The fire threatened numerous homes and other structures, forcing many residents and tourists to evacuate. The fire left behind devastation and significant material damage. Houses, cars, and boats were destroyed, and a body was found in the affected area. Dozens of people sought medical help due to the effects of the fire, with some hospitalized and several patients suffering severe burns and life-threatening injuries. Slavko Tucaković, the chief fire department commander, described the fire in the Omis area as one of the worst he has encountered in his career. According to estimates by firefighters, the fire consumed approximately 1,000 hectares of vegetation and forest.
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