ZAGREB, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- From the beginning of the year until Aug. 19, a total of 4,300 wildfires were recorded in Croatia, an increase of 26 percent compared with last year, the Croatian Firefighting Association (HVZ) said in a statement on Wednesday.
In August so far, 981 fires, including 681 wildfires, were registered, with a total burnt area of 7,710 hectares, the HVZ said, adding that as a result, 557 fire brigade units, 1,011 vehicles and 2,837 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fires.
Compared with last year, there has been an increase of fires in most categories this year, with the exception of building fires, which decreased by 8 percent compared with last year.
According to the HVZ, 11 people died in the fires so far this year, a decrease of 26 percent compared with the year before, while another 98 people were injured, including 20 firefighters, a decrease of 3 percent year on year.
A lingering heatwave sweeping Croatia, as well as acts of arson, is believed to be the main culprit for the sharp increase of wildfires in the country this year.
