Croatia's Istria Region Hit by Severe Flooding

Torrential rain unleashed sudden and severe flash flooding across Croatia’s Istria region on Tuesday, inundating streets, basements, and ground-floor apartments after more than 100 litres of rain per square metre fell in less than an hour. Emergency services struggled to respond as the deluge rendered roads impassable, swept away cars, and left residents scrambling for safety. The regional emergency center received over 30 calls for help in the Umag area alone, with the worst-hit towns including Novigrad, Buje, and Umag.

Unprecedented Rainfall and Local Impact

Meteorological data revealed that rainfall totals reached 98 mm in Umag, 108 mm in Buje, and an astonishing 120 mm in Novigrad in under sixty minutes. Nearly 2,000 lightning strikes were recorded within a two-hour window, intensifying the chaos. Residents described the flooding as unprecedented. Vlado, a Dajla local of 30 years, told reporters, "That's never happened." Another resident, Anton, called the event "a catastrophe, a cataclysm." In Mareda, resident Denis blamed blocked canals for exacerbating the disaster, recalling how similar conditions once left people navigating Umag by boat.

Emergency Response and Infrastructure Challenges

All local fire departments were mobilized, with support arriving from neighboring towns. Fire chief Dino Klovak confirmed that teams from Poreč, Rovinj, and Buje were dispatched to assist. Despite their efforts, the sheer volume of water overwhelmed drainage systems and left olive groves, roads, and public buildings underwater. Video footage showed cars partially submerged and children being evacuated from a flooded schoolyard just in time, thanks to the quick actions of coaches and teachers. The region’s infrastructure, already strained by a previous series of storms days earlier, failed to cope with the intensity of the rainfall.

Broader Context and Ongoing Risks

Meteorologists identified the event as part of a broader pattern of extreme weather affecting the northwestern Balkans, with neighboring Italy, France, Switzerland, and Bulgaria also experiencing heavy storms and localized flooding. In Istria, the crisis has reignited debate over the maintenance of drainage canals and the region’s preparedness for increasingly frequent and intense weather events, which experts link to climate change. As the rain showed no sign of abating, authorities warned residents to remain vigilant and prepared for further emergencies in the coming days.