ZAGREB, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Croatia's fire season this year will be one of the toughest in recent history, with the number of wildfires up nearly 22 percent compared with the same period last year, Croatia's chief fire commander Slavko Tucakovic said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a parliamentary committee session, Tucakovic said the estimated burned area has also sharply increased by almost 80 percent year-on-year, according to the Croatian news agency Hina.
"This year we are facing a new phenomenon - dry thunderstorms that are not accompanied by rain. This is something our system needs to adapt to. These storms always occur in inaccessible areas, so it is crucial to keep building roads and access routes," Tucakovic said.
A prolonged spell of extreme heat in Croatia has contributed to several wildfires, particularly along the Adriatic coast, where firefighters have been battling blazes fueled by high temperature, dry vegetation and strong wind.
Last week, a large fire broke out on the island of Korcula in southern Croatia, burning some 900 hectares of land.
Croatia is also bracing for further possible wildfires. As part of preparations, some firefighters have been redeployed from the mainland to coastal areas. Tucakovic has also announced plans to hire 1,000 seasonal firefighters. ■