The Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MINTS) and the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) have confirmed that a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina died in a catastrophic fire in the Omiš area and have expressed their condolences to her family, index.hr reports.
The woman is Dragana Antešević (34) from Kotor Varoš, who worked as a seasonal worker in the Omiš area and disappeared on August 13 in Stanići while fleeing a fire. Her body was found at the scene of the fire yesterday morning.
According to information that emerged after her disappearance, Antešević was in a car with two other people while they were trying to escape the fire. At one point, she got out of the vehicle and has since been missing.
Her family has provided DNA samples, and her husband has arrived in Croatia.
“We express our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased citizen of BiH,” the Ministry and the HTZ said.
Great interest from foreign media
Due to the great interest of foreign media in the fire in the Omiš area, MINTS and the Croatian Tourist Board today held an online meeting with the directors of the Croatian Tourist Board’s representative offices in eight important broadcasting markets – in Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
It was agreed that the representative offices would convey official information about the situation in Croatia to the media and partners in their markets during the day.
The message intended for foreign media states that the competent services reacted in a timely manner and that tourists who needed help were taken care of.
“After a difficult night and an emergency caused by a large fire in the Omiš area and its surroundings, the situation on the ground is gradually stabilizing. The competent services and institutions are still on the ground, monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of people and property,” MINTS and the Croatian Tourist Board said.
They expressed “sincere condolences to the family of the deceased BiH citizen” and “deep regret for the tragic consequences” of the fire. They wished everyone who was injured or affected in any way by the fire a speedy and successful recovery.
All tourists who needed help have been taken care of
The Ministry and the Croatian National Tourist Board state that since the beginning of the emergency, in cooperation with local authorities and the tourism sector, they have been actively participating in providing assistance to tourists affected by the fire.
They emphasize that all tourists who needed help have been taken care of, and those who needed alternative accommodation have been provided with hotel rooms in the Split-Dalmatia County.
“The situation is gradually normalizing, and tourist activities in most of this destination are proceeding smoothly. Croatia remains open and ready to welcome its guests, with continuous monitoring of the situation and full cooperation of all competent services and the tourism sector,” they said.
MINTS and the Croatian National Tourist Board also state that the timely response of the competent services confirms the system’s ability to quickly provide assistance and protect people in emergency circumstances.
They especially thanked the firefighters, police, civil protection, health services, local authorities, the tourism sector and everyone who participates in the protection of people, homes and property.
There were around 12,000 tourists in the area
Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina announced yesterday, after a session of the Civil Protection Headquarters in Omiš, that in cooperation with the Croatian Tourism Board, around 200 rooms had been secured for tourists from the area affected by the fire.
According to the data presented at the Headquarters, around 12,000 tourists were staying in the area at the time of the fire.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, is providing assistance to foreign tourists, including providing accommodation, organizing their return to their countries, and communicating with diplomatic missions.
