Omiš wildfire sparks criticism over emergency warning system failure

Following a catastrophic wildfire near Omiš, Croatia, residents and experts are questioning why the Emergency Warning and Crisis Management System (SRUUK) was not activated to alert the population. Many locals, including those who lost homes and individuals with hearing impairments, stated they would have evacuated sooner had they received official mobile alerts.

The Ministry of the Interior (MUP) clarified that the system is technically stable and that the decision to trigger SRUUK rests with the Chief Firefighting Commander. Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban suggested that activating the system during the night might have caused undue panic and blocked emergency access routes, though residents argued that the lack of information led to chaos.

Experts have criticized the existing evacuation plans, noting they must be more than just paperwork and require regular drills with police, medical, and fire services. The fire's rapid spread was attributed to a combination of dense, dry vegetation following a rainy period and strong bura winds.