Fire at Roof 68 Bar on Split's Riva Extinguished, No Injuries Reported
Firefighters' swift response prevented the fire from spreading, and police confirmed no one was injured. The cause of the fire will be determined by an investigation.
Firefighters' swift response prevented the fire from spreading, and police confirmed no one was injured. The cause of the fire will be determined by an investigation.
In the evening hours of July 31, 2026, a fire broke out at the well-known catering establishment Roof 68 Rooftop Bar on Obala Lazareta in Split. The fire was reported at 9:21 PM, and according to initial information, the flames engulfed the kitchen area, as reported by the Morski portal.
Units from the Split Public Fire Brigade (JVP) with five vehicles and 14 firefighters, along with members of the Split Volunteer Fire Department (DVD) with one vehicle and three firefighters, were immediately dispatched to the scene, according to Morski. N1 Hrvatska reports that 13 firefighters with four vehicles were on site, indicating slight discrepancies in the reported number of deployed units. Thanks to the swift intervention, the fire was brought under control and extinguished, and firefighters proceeded to overhaul the scene. The fire was also visible on Croatian Automobile Club cameras, as reported by Dalmacija News.
Thick black smoke quickly enveloped Split's Riva, causing concern among citizens and tourists. "Something is smoking from Roof 68, the entire Riva is under smoke," concerned readers reported to local media, as reported by Morski. Witnesses at the scene also described a loud noise just before the smoke appeared. "It sounded like something exploded," they told N1 Hrvatska. Citizens also reported that an emergency medical vehicle passed through the city, as reported by Jutarnji list and Slobodna Dalmacija.
Police officers secured a wider perimeter around the building to allow emergency services to work unimpeded. Tino Milat, police spokesperson for the Split-Dalmatia Police Department, said in an initial statement to Slobodna Dalmacija: "Police officers have been dispatched to the scene, as have firefighters, but at this moment we have no additional information. Firefighters are primarily engaged in the intervention, and police are securing the perimeter around the scene. We cannot currently confirm information about any injured persons."
Later, around 10:50 PM, Milat confirmed the good news to Slobodna Dalmacija: "It has been confirmed that there are no injured persons, neither among visitors nor employees. Significant material damage has occurred, and an investigation will follow to determine the cause of the fire and all circumstances of the incident."
Roof 68 restaurant is located in the Tourist Palace building in the very center of Split. Although the fire has been extinguished, significant material damage has occurred. The police investigation that follows should determine the exact cause of the fire and all circumstances of this event that briefly interrupted a peaceful summer evening on Split's Riva.
