Wildfire breaks out on Croatia’s Pelješac peninsula, ferry service expanded

A large wildfire broke out on Croatia’s Pelješac peninsula on Friday, forcing the closure of a road across the peninsula and prompting ferry services to be expanded to help maintain transport links.

The fire started in the area of Kuna Pelješka and spread towards Potomje and Putnikovići, with strong winds complicating firefighting efforts, according to local reports. Firefighters were working on multiple fronts, with protecting nearby settlements and homes among their priorities.

Four Canadair firefighting aircraft and two Air Tractor planes were deployed alongside firefighters from across Dubrovnik-Neretva County and nearby islands, local media reported.

With the main road across Pelješac closed because of the fire, Jadrolinija’s ferry Sv Duje was deployed on the Ploče–Trpanj route and is operating continuously, without a fixed timetable, to carry passengers and vehicles.

An additional ferry connection between Dominče on Korčula and Trstenik on Pelješac was also being arranged, according to local authorities

The regular Ploče–Trpanj service is operated by Jadrolinija on ferry line 633, with the crossing normally taking about one hour.

Authorities said the situation remained fluid as firefighters continued efforts to contain the blaze.