Wildfire forces evacuations in Croatian tourist town of Omis, injuring at least 19

OMIS, Croatia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A wind-whipped wildfire swept into the Adriatic tourist town of Omis early on Friday, injuring at least 19 people and forcing hundreds to evacuate as flames threatened homes, vehicles and hillside settlements, Croatian officials and local media said.

The blaze moved quickly through trees and rocky slopes around the town, a popular stop along Croatia's Dalmatian coast, and turned the night sky red above seaside buildings and narrow streets. Ambulance crews treated about 19 people, broadcaster N1 reported; two with serious injuries were taken to a hospital in Split, about 25 km (15.5 miles) to the north, regional governor Blazenko Boban said.

"We have had an extremely difficult night, we have a complicated situation from Lokva Rogoznica to Omis," Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković told local outlets.

A total of 157 firefighters and 44 fire vehicles battled the blaze through the night, while additional reinforcements were deployed from several Croatian counties. A section of the main coastal highway was closed, and a navy boat was positioned offshore for possible evacuations by sea, according to local media. The town opened its sports hall as an emergency shelter, with about 1,000 people staying there overnight.

The fire is the latest in a summer of wildfires across southern Europe, where prolonged heat and drought, conditions scientists say are linked to climate change, have left forests and land vulnerable. The Balkans have also experienced repeated heatwaves this year.

(Reporting by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Edward McAllister)