Volunteers at the Omis volcano help animals: "Unfortunately, many have been burned"
Na območju Omiša so prostovoljci pomagali ljudem in živalim po požaru, ki je povzročil masivno škodo. Tla so bila še vedno zelo vroča, kar je predstavljal dodatno nevarnost. Prostovoljci so iskali preživele živali, poskušali jih ujeti in odpeljati na veterinarski pregled, ter zbirali pomoč v obliki hrane, vode in drugih predmetov. Številni prebivalci so ostali brez elektrike in vode, medtem ko so nekateri izgorjele hiše postali neposredno nevarne. Hrvaška gorska reševalna služba (HGSS) opozarja občane, naj ne hodijo na pogorišče na lastno pest, ker obstajajo nevarnosti padanja kamenja, posedanja požganih tal in zrušitve ožganih dreves. Skupina Welo Team je vzpostavila spletno stran za povezovanje ljudi, ki potrebujejo pomoč, s tistimi, ki jo lahko ponudijo, in opozarja občane na previdnost pri nakazovanju denarja glede objav o pomoči.
Volunteers in Omiš assist animals amid fire devastation: “Many have perished” Firefighters and volunteers continue their efforts in the area around Omiš, Croatia, assisting both humans and animals affected by the recent wildfires. The fires, which have left extensive damage behind them, have resulted in numerous casualties among animals and significant destruction of property. Volunteers are working tirelessly to locate survivors and provide aid to those impacted by the disaster. Their work will likely continue into the coming days due to the scale of the damage and the number of animals lost. Efforts to rescue and care for animals include searching through burned areas, capturing surviving animals, and transporting them for veterinary check-ups. Volunteers are gathering food, water, containers, clothing, and other supplies to attract frightened animals. Some of these resources will be left in safe locations within the burn zone accessible to both domestic and wild animals. Electricity and water supply have been disrupted for many residents, with some homes either destroyed or severely damaged. Inside certain burned-out houses, the air is nearly undrinkable due to the conditions. According to volunteer Olga Burić, who is helping both people and animals on-site, the situation is difficult to describe. She noted that many things have been lost, and walking through the burned area is almost impossible because shoes literally burn after just twenty seconds of standing still. The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) has issued warnings against entering burn zones without proper guidance. They advise citizens to contact firefighters before visiting any burn site to ensure safety. The service emphasized that while they respect the desire of individuals to help, it is crucial to avoid endangering one's life. Burned trees can be unstable and collapse, there is a risk of falling rocks and debris, and the terrain is especially dangerous on slopes. Ground temperatures in some areas remain extremely high. A group called Welo Team has coordinated assistance efforts, establishing an online platform called "Kad zatreba" to connect people in need with those willing to offer help. This includes specific sections dedicated to aiding animals. Antonio Petrina, a representative of the group, stated that the website was quickly adapted to meet the current situation following the fire. He expressed hope that it would improve organization, ensuring that people know exactly who needs help, who can provide it, and where assistance should be delivered. At the same time, he urged caution regarding donations made based on social media posts, advising people to verify the authenticity of requests before making payments. In a heartwarming gesture, a generous individual reached out to Croatian firefighters offering help to transport vehicles or boats destroyed in the fire back to Slovenia. The firefighter shared the person’s phone number on social media, prompting numerous expressions of gratitude from users. One wrote, “My respects for such a beautiful gesture and proof that the world is still nice because of people like this.” Another added, “Cap off, there are still good people, rarely anyone is human.” Meanwhile, two Slovenian firefighters were present in Dalmatia assisting in extinguishing a fire on the island of Brač, which broke out the night before. August 2026 will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most catastrophic months for the southern neighbors, with fires affecting areas near Zadar, Pelješac, over Dubrovnik, and on the Long Island in the night before Saturday. As firefighters continued their operations, local residents began collecting aid for those left without anything after the fire. Many people on social media offered assistance to those affected by the disaster. For instance, a couple offered their home in Zadar to a family with two young children from Omiš who could not return home yet. In Facebook groups like “Grad Omiš, to smo mi,” people started organizing support and offering accommodation to those whose areas had been affected by the fire. Some were even prepared to give away cars. A man posted, “If someone needs a car, I’ll give it away. It’s nothing special, but it’s drivable and registered.” Businesses and builders offered their equipment, restaurants provided free meals, and many uploaded photos of items lost during evacuation onto social media platforms.
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