Croatia’s mountain rescuers issue summer warning as rescue calls rise

ZAGREB, 14 August 2026 – Croatia’s mountain rescue service is carrying out an average of three to four rescue operations every day during the summer season, with mountain accidents, dehydration, exhaustion and searches for missing people among the most common reasons for intervention.

Petar Prpić of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) said on HRT show Studio 4 that the summer was intensive but broadly in line with previous years, with rescuers available around the clock.

HGSS has also recorded a gradual increase in the number of interventions from year to year, which Prpić partly attributed to the growing number of visitors to Croatia and the increasing number of people venturing into remote and difficult-to-access areas.

However, he rejected the common perception that foreign tourists wearing unsuitable footwear account for most rescues.

According to HGSS figures, around 75 per cent of people rescued are Croatian citizens, while incidents involving people wearing flip-flops on demanding terrain represent only a very small proportion of cases.

“Flip-flops are an urban myth,” Prpić said, noting that genuine problems linked to inadequate preparation more often involve insufficient water, depleted mobile phone batteries, and unsuitable clothing or footwear.

HGSS advises people to check the route carefully before setting out and to ensure they have sufficient water, suitable equipment and adequate clothing.

The organisation’s work extends beyond emergency responses. Its activities also include prevention, route mapping, training and public education, which Prpić said represented a much broader workload than the number of rescue interventions alone suggests.

While even well-prepared and experienced hikers can have accidents, he stressed that proper preparation and knowledge of the planned route can significantly reduce the risk.

With large numbers of people continuing to explore Croatia’s mountains and other less accessible areas during the summer, HGSS remains on standby 24 hours a day.