German tourists spark Poreč apartment fire, owner faces €400k loss

On 4 August 2026 a fire broke out in a luxury apartment in the Cancini settlement near Poreč, Istria, Croatia. Police say the blaze started in the kitchen when a 44‑year‑old German woman was cooking; heat transferred from the stove to a pan and then to wooden structures, causing the fire to engulf the entire unit.

The guests, a German family and additional unregistered friends, ignored house rules and gathered up to 13 people in the apartment. While the fire spread, the occupants continued to party, drink and even taunted the owner, Markica Kikić, who later described the scene as “torture”. No injuries were reported, but the damage is estimated at around €400,000, effectively ending the owner’s tourist season.

Police have opened a criminal investigation for endangering life and property, and the German woman is a suspect. The owner also faces tax questions, as the temporary loss of rental income does not automatically exempt him from the annual flat‑rate tax. Additionally, the booking platform informed him that he must cover the guests’ relocation to a luxury hotel, adding to his financial burden.