An unusually high tide combined with strong southerly winds flooded waterfront areas along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast overnight, with the town of Kastela near Split suffering the most severe damage, maritime and emergency officials said on Thursday.
Sea levels rose to about 95 centimetres (37 inches), causing seawater to spill onto promenades in several coastal and island towns, according to the Maritime Meteorological Centre in Split. Flooding was reported along the seafront in Split’s Bacvice district and near the Zenta area, the centre said.
While water levels receded quickly in most locations without entering buildings, Kastela was an exception, where numerous properties were flooded.
“We recorded a sea level of 95 centimetres and seawater overflowed onto the waterfront,” said Goran Turcinov, a duty officer at the Maritime Meteorological Centre. “In Kastela, several buildings were affected.”
Kastela’s fire brigade received around 200 calls from residents seeking help, fire chief Darko Maretic said, describing the weather system as one of the strongest seen in decades.
“Seawater flooded the entire waterfront in Kastela,” Maretic said. “Several buildings, restaurants and cafes were inundated. Conditions have since stabilised, and firefighters are continuing to pump water out of affected properties.”
The State Hydrometeorological Institute said strong winds near the island of Palagruza generated waves up to eight metres (26 feet) high, while gusts in the Split area reached speeds of up to 130 km per hour (81 mph).
Meteorologists warned that further strong southerly winds are expected on Friday, raising the risk of additional high tides and coastal flooding along parts of the Dalmatian coast.