A fire at the Guava Waterman Milna Resort located on Brač Island in Croatia caused guests to flee into the sea on Sunday night. The incident occurred as guests suddenly witnessed flames rapidly spreading towards the building.
Guests' Terrifying Experience
Guests at the resort, some of whom had booked their trip through a well-known travel agency, felt abandoned. Josh Robbins, a 26-year-old guest, stated that staff initially told them the fire was not a threat and even encouraged them to return to their rooms and relax with a drink. However, within five minutes, he observed flames reaching within 20 feet of the building.
Rescue Operations and Officials' Response
Over 50 boats were dispatched by local residents to rescue guests, and nearly 700 people were safely evacuated from the island. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, but guests criticized the hotel’s evacuation plan. Local authorities reported that the fire started due to lightning in the area and spread eastward towards Milna.
Numerous firefighters were sent to the scene to bring the fire under control. Croatian officials confirmed that there are no longer any flames on the island. All evacuated individuals were safely transported to the city of Split. Additionally, about one-third of the resort's guests were British, most of whom had booked all-inclusive packages worth approximately £1,800 per week.
A spokesperson for the travel agency said: "We know this has been a distressing experience for those affected by the fire on Brač Island. The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and our local teams are supporting those impacted and working closely with the hotel and local authorities."
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