Firefighters save Pelješac, battle with fire near Metković continues

PELJEŠAC, (Patria) - The fire front on the Croatian peninsula of Pelješac near the hamlets of Kajanovići-Glabalovo and the settlement of Mokalo was stopped during the night and there are currently no large open fires near the town of Orebić, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County announced on Wednesday morning.

Firefighting forces held a three-kilometer defense line from Postup to Glabalovo throughout the night, with strong winds complicating the effort, Al Jazeera reports.

Meteorologists forecast moderate to strong bora wind for Wednesday, with occasional gale-force gusts, which will gradually weaken.

The firefighting commander of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Stjepo Simović, stated that the situation is better, but firefighters remain on the ground.

- We must be very careful; there are small flames in places, which the wind easily rekindles. The fire is far from extinguished for now - Simović said.

Several hundred firefighters from Dubrovnik-Neretva County and other parts of Croatia, as well as members of the Croatian Army and other emergency services, remain at the fire.

During the morning, the arrival of Canadair aircraft is expected again.