Forest fire forces evacuation of Croatian resort

21/09/2008

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Authorities ordered the evacuation Saturday (September 20th) of parts of the southern Adriatic resort of Makarska due to an approaching forest fire. A blaze near the resort, around 440km south of Zagreb, broke out Friday night, fanned by strong northern winds clocked at 150 km/h. Already, about 800 hectares of pine forest have been destroyed. Hundreds of firemen are working to extinguish the fire. (HRT, Reuters, RTRS - 20/09/08)