Strong winds turned vehicles over, stopped traffic and ripped trees out of the ground in the coastal parts of Croatia and in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, leaving islands cut off from mainland and towns and villages without electricity.
Blowing at speeds up to 176 kilometres an hour, it was the strongest wind ever recorded in Croatian southern coastal city of Split. It caused several wildfires in the area, including one in the town of Makarska that forced authorities to briefly evacuate a residential building.
Parts of the A1 highway are closed for traffic and 25 ferry and catamaran lines connecting islands with the mainland are not operating.
In Herzegovina, the wind has ripped out trees in the city park of Trebinje and along the streets in Mostar, damaging buildings, turning over vehicles and blocking traffic.
