July 14, 2022 - The latest on the fires in Vodice, Zaton, and Sibenik, which broke out on Wednesday, July 13. 

A large fire broke out on Wednesday in the hinterland of Sibenik, and during the afternoon, the fire spread to Zaton and Raslina. Residents of Zaton and Raslina had to leave their homes, and some were evacuated by boat. During the evening, some residents returned home. About 20 houses burned down, and the fire also destroyed several cars. 

Two Canadairs have been in action since the early morning. The fire chief reported that the fire is under control, reports Jutarnji List.

08:10 am - Darko Dukić, commander of the Šibenik-Knin County Fire Brigade, told HRT that the situation is under control but that the moment when he will be able to say that the fire is localized is far away.

"Be careful; the fire covered 3,300 hectares; that's a huge area. In addition, there is a lot of pine forest in the area towards Vodice, and if the fire had engulfed that area, the fire would have reached Tribunj," said Dukić.

07:45 am - The Croatian Fire Association announced on Thursday morning that more than 300 firefighters fought the fire near Zaton and Raslina during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

"On Thursday around 2:00 am, firefighters partially managed to bring the fire under control. On Thursday morning, there is no uncontrolled fire spread and large fronts. The fire is surrounded," said the Croatian Fire Association (HVZ).

"Since 6:00 am, two Canadairs have been used. Tonight, 350 firefighters, 50 soldiers, 54 police officers, and many citizens were involved. One hundred eighteen firefighters with 40 firefighters came from the interior," said chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković and added that extraordinary deployments were engaged from Split-Dalmatia, Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Karlovac, Zagreb, and Zadar counties, and Koprivnica-Križevac county is coming.

There was no evacuation order tonight, the residents defended their houses, and we thank them. There was significant material damage to homes and olive groves, but luckily no one was injured. It is estimated that around 3,000 hectares were burned," added Tucaković.

HVZ states that firefighters and other forces remain at the fire site until further notice.

07:30 am - Minister Davor Božinović also visited the fire this morning. He pointed out that the situation is better than yesterday:

"Morning in Zaton and Raslina. A better situation, no large fire fronts, and uncontrolled expansion towards Vodice. More favorable weather conditions. Around 350 firefighters from Šibenik and six other counties worked all night, with the support of many citizens, soldiers in the Raslina area, and 75 police officers to secure the fire and traffic. Thanks, everyone," announced Bozinović.

07:02 am - Due to the fire in the Šibenik area, the DC8 is closed to all traffic; the state road DC27 from the intersection with the Adriatic highway (DC8) to Gaćelezi and the county road Vodice-Gaćelezi (ŽC6086), the Croatian Auto Club (HAK) reported on Thursday morning.

06:50 am - Slavko Tucaković, chief fire chief, appeared on the show 'Good Morning Croatia' and explained what happened during the night near Šibenik.

"Fortunately, the night was less fiery. The key moment happened around 2 am when the wind stopped, and there is currently no uncontrolled fire spread, as we surrounded the fire from all sides. Two Canadairs also took off this morning," Tucaković said, confirming that the situation was challenging yesterday.

"It was a firestorm. Material damage is excellent, about 20 houses were damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties; several firefighters were slightly injured, one fell into a well. We all have to move on together; the damage was great... But, everyone came to help."

04:45 am - On early Thursday morning, the Sibenik area is still burning, and the firefighters are processing the peripheral part of the fire area next to the buildings in the towns of Raslina and Zaton. That work awaits them all night, said the deputy commander of the Public Fire Department of the city of Šibenik. 

The county commander of the Sibenik-Knin Fire Brigade, Darko Dukić, told Croatian Radio at 2:00 am on Thursday that the situation in the area of Zaton and Raslina had calmed down and that the fire was open in the direction of Vodice.

"The situation in the area of Zaton and Raslina has calmed down. However, we have an open fire in the direction of Vodice towards the Adriatic highway, which is closed to all traffic. All the fire brigades are deployed in that part, and we are stopping the spread of the fire towards the highway and further towards the houses in Vodice and the area of Srima. In the last few hours, the work has been done successfully in that part, the wind has stopped somewhat, and we will see how the situation will develop further. Colleagues from Zadar County, Lika-Senj, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar have joined us, and Karlovac County is joining us very soon," said Dukić.

The commander of the Šibenik fire brigade, Volimir Milošević, presented the situation on the ground in the early hours of Thursday.

"I will go by places: In Raslina, the situation is much better. The fire is not localized but is no longer so active that it endangers buildings. In Zaton, the situation is somewhat better. However, a large area around these places needs to be rehabilitated. We cannot consider it localized until the firefighters pass by on foot. The problem is that the fire in Zaton is moving along the hills in the direction of Vodice, that is, Srima, and the Jadranska magistrala, and this is what the firefighters are doing most now - they are preventing the fire from crossing the Jadranska magistrala, or Benkovac road. The buildings are less threatened at the moment, but the fire is quite large. The forces we receive from neighboring counties and other parts are on their way, and some larger ones have arrived. Tired firefighters will be at least partially replaced," said Milošević.

For more news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

July 13, 2022 - Three fires in Dalmatia broke out on Wednesday - two in Šibenik-Knin County and one in Zadar County. The current situation is not good.

This article has been updated. Click here for the latest update of the fire in Sibenik at 20:45 pm.

Three fires are active in Dalmatia, one in Zadar County and two in Šibenik-Knin County, the Croatian Fire Brigade Association (HVZ) announced on Wednesday, reports Jutarnji List and HRT.

"We once again appeal to the citizens to be extra careful due to the extremely unfavorable weather conditions, which include a very high risk of forest fires breaking out in almost the entire area of Croatia," said chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković.

In the village of Boraja near Šibenik, a fire broke out due to a traffic accident, after which the surrounding vegetation caught fire. A Canadair was sent to extinguish the fire, with the help of the fire brigade on land.

In the same county, there is also an active fire on Benkovačka cesta, which is also being extinguished by firefighters.

Vodice JVP commander Antonio Begić told Dalmacija Danas that the fire on Benkovačka cesta is quite large, that 45 firefighters are putting it out, and that the number of firefighters is growing.

"The Air Force is helping us, specifically two Canadairs. There is a pine forest above, low vegetation, there are also endangered buildings, so we are now concentrating on that," added Begić. Begić said that the firefighters do not yet have control over the fire.

A traffic accident also caused a fire in Zadar County, in the area of Visočane. A van was ignited which caused the fire to spread to grass and low vegetation.

Firefighters point out that there is no danger of the fire spreading to the buildings, and firefighters and Canadairs have already been sent to the scene.

HVZ reminds citizens that it is forbidden to burn weeds, especially in windy weather, to use barbecues in nature, and to throw cigarette butts and any other irresponsible behavior that may cause a fire.

For more news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

June 28, 2022 -  In the newest TCN series, we take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this fourth installment of our Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Šibenik?

When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht, or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of euros on sailboat rentals and crews?

Today we tell you more about the island destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Šibenik.

Photo: Mario Romulić

First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination, and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.

The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.

Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.

Where is the Šibenik ferry port located? The ferry port of Šibenik is located in the center of the city. Six minutes walk from the iconic cathedral of Saint Jacob, and three minutes from the Robert Visania Park.

Kaprije

Kaprije is one of the furthest islands in the Šibenik archipelago.

Ferry line 532 (Šibenik - Zlarin - Kaprije - Žirje) leaves for Kaprije every day, making two trips from Monday to Saturday, and only one trip on Sunday. From Monday to Saturday, one ferry leaves from Šibenik at 11:30 am and arrives in Kaprije at 12:35 pm, and the second ferry leaves at 16:30 pm and arrives in Kaprije at 17:35 pm. The only ferry leaving for Kaprije on Sunday leaves at 11:30 am and arrives at 12:35 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 31 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 15.5 kunas.

Photo: Roman Klementschitz/Wikimedia Commons

Obonjan

Obonjan is a small island located east of the island of Zlarin. Starting July 1st, one ferry will depart from Šibenik on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the direction of Obonjan, via line 532 (Šibenik - Zlarin - Kaprije - Žirje). The ferry departs at 8:30 am and arrives in Obonjan at 9:10 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 25 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 12.5 kunas.

Photo: Ante Pletikosić/Wikimedia Commons

Prvić Luka

Prvić Luka is located south on the island of Prvić, one of the first islands after crossing the Saint Ante channel.

Every day, ships leave Šibenik for Prvić Luka. From Monday to Saturday, up to five trips are made on line 505 (Vodice - Šibenik), while on Sundays only three. From Monday to Saturday, the schedule of the ships leaving Šibenik for Prvić Luka is as follows: the first one leaves at 5:30 am and arrives at 6:25 am, the second one leaves at 9:30 am and arrives at 10:20 am, the third leaves at 12:40 pm and arrives at 13:20 pm, the fourth leaves at 15:40 pm and arrives at 16:20 pm, and the fifth and last ship leaves at 19:30 pm and arrives at 20:05 pm. The Sunday schedule is as follows: the first ship leaves at 6:35 am and arrives at 7:35 am, the second leaves at 9:00 am and arrives at 9:35 am, and the third and last ship departs at 20:45 pm and arrives at 21:25 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 25 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 9 kunas.

Photo: Andres rus/Wikimedia Commons

Šepurine

Šepurine is another destination on the island of Prvić, but further north. As with Prvić Luka, line 505 (Vodice - Šibenik) is the one that goes to Šepurine.

The frequency of boat trips is the same: five from Monday to Saturday, and three on Sundays. The schedule of the boats from Monday to Saturday is as follows: the first one leaves at 5:30 am and arrives at 6:10 am, the second one leaves at 9:30 am and arrives at 10:40 am, the third leaves at 12:40 pm and arrives at 13:35 pm, the fourth leaves at 15:40 pm and arrives at 16:35 pm, and the fifth and last ship leaves at 19:30 pm and arrives at 20:20 pm. The Sunday schedule is as follows: the first ship leaves at 6:35 am and arrives at 7:20 am, the second leaves at 9:00 am and arrives at 9:50 am, and the third and last ship departs at 20:45 pm and arrives at 21:40 pm. 

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 25 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 9 kunas.

Photo: Hschermer/Wikimedia Commons

Vodice

Unlike other ports that we have covered in this series of articles, the port of Šibenik also has a ferry connection to a destination that is not an island: Vodice, located north of the city.

Line 505 (Vodice - Šibenik) offers four daily trips from Monday to Saturday, while only three on Sundays. The schedule of the boats from Monday to Saturday is as follows: the first one leaves at 9:30 am and arrives at 11:00 am, the second leaves at 12:40 pm and arrives at 13:50 pm, the third leaves at 15:40 pm and arrives at 16:50 pm, and the fourth and last ship leaves at 19:30 pm and arrives at 20:45 pm. The Sunday schedule is as follows: the first ship leaves at 6:35 am and arrives at 7:05 am, the second leaves at 9:00 am and arrives at 10:15 am, and the third and last ship departs at 20:45 pm and arrives at 22:00 pm.

The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 26 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 11 kunas.

Zlarin

Zlarin is one of the largest islands in the Šibenik archipelago, known for its quiet beaches and historic port.

The ferry line 505 (Vodice - Šibenik) is one of Jadrolinija's lines that takes passengers to the island of Zlarin. From Monday to Saturday, five trips are made from the port of Šibenik, and four on Sundays. The schedule of the ships leaving Šibenik for Žlarin is as follows: the first one leaves at 5:30 am and arrives at 6:40 am, the second one leaves at 9:30 am and arrives at 9:55 am, the third leaves at 12:40 pm, and arrives at 13:05 pm, the fourth leaves at 15:40 pm and arrives at 16:05 pm, and the fifth and last ship leaves at 19:30 pm and arrives at 19:50 pm. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 25 kunas, while for children (3 to 12 years old) it is 9 kunas.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is an additional trip of ferry line 532 (Šibenik - Zlarin - Kaprije - Žirje), which departs at 11:30 am from Šibenik and arrives in Zlarin at 11:55 am. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 25 kunas, while for children (3 to 12 years old) it is 12.5 kunas.

Photo: Luboš Holič/Wikimedia Commons

Žirje

The island of Žirje is the farthest from the port of Šibenik. To reach the island of Žirje, two ferries on line 532 (Šibenik - Zlarin - Kaprije - Žirje) leave every day. The first departs from Šibenik at 11:30 am and arrives at 13:10 pm, and the second leaves at 16:30 pm and arrives in Žirje at 18:10 pm. The price of the ferry ticket for adults is 26 kunas, while for children (from 3 to 12 years old) it is 11 kunas.

Photo: Roman Klementschitz/Wikimedia Commons

The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Prices are subject to change. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Šibenik.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

March the 31st, 2022 - The Zagreb kids escape room is set to open in another location, this time away from the continental part of the country down to the Adriatic coast.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Sergej Novosel Vuckovic writes, the Zagreb kids escape room, a game which involves thinking, research and solving tasks, which was designed here in the Croatian capital and led by Kruna Josimovic at the Zagreb Fair, is set to open its doors down by the sea in Vodice.

This is the second location for this escape room in the Republic of Croatia, and the third in total (it also exists in Podgorica, Montenegro), and this unique concept in Europe will be available to tourists, too.

“We are opening it in cooperation with Matilda Beach Resort, and from June the 1st, just before the height of the summer tourist season, a themed room will be arranged on the promenade in Vodice. This is part of long-term cooperation with this resort, as well as a probe into the local terrain. Because the Zagreb kids escape room in Vodice will most likely remain open there throughout the year, we'll only change the topics from season to season,'' explained Josimovic.

Last year, this innovative Croat announced a breakthrough in the market ''across the pond'' in the United States of America. Preparations for placement in Chicago and Philadelphia are still ongoing, and it has taken quite a while, Josimovic can readily admit.

"Due to the rigorous regulations there, we've been finding it a little harder to find space, to be in one apartment block, but to be responsible for several of them, we're also busy trying to solve paperwork, which is more commonplace in the USA than even here in Croatia," said Kruna Josimovic of the trans-Atlantic move.

The opening of the American franchise of the Zagreb kids escape room, she says, will not be happening before the summer.

She is extremely satisfied with last year's business results, as the year 2021 was phenomenal, even better than the record pre-pandemic year of 2019, and the business continued on an upward trajectory, with both children and adults showing a lot of interest,'' concluded Kruna Josimovic.

For more, check out Made in Croatia.

February 1, 2021 – At today's press conference, the Sibenik police released new details about quadruple murder in Sibenik, revealing that the killer used the Chinese version of a Kalashnikov.

The Šibenik police held a press conference today on the quadruple murder and suicide in Šibenik and Vodice on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The Chief of the Šibenik-Knin Police Administration, Ivica Kostanić, opened the conference by explaining the case's chronology.

Kalashnikov procured illegally

"At 12:56 pm, we received a report that a dead man was found in a Mercedes in Vodice. We found him with gunshot wounds. The ambulance informed us about three more dead people on the South Highway. It was determined that they had gunshot wounds. An arrest warrant has been issued for the perpetrator.

During the inspection at 18:22, we received a report that a vehicle had been seen in the Vodice area. The report was from the citizens, and I have to thank the citizens for their help. The suspect's body was dead in the vehicle.

We determined that he used a 7.62 caliber weapon, the Chinese version of the Kalashnikov. He killed three people near Šibenik and then drove towards Vodice in the car of the murdered 60-year-old. He parked in front of the store of the injured 47-year-old. When he came out, he fired shots at him from the same weapon. Then he drove the Škoda outside Vodice, got out of the vehicle two kilometers away, and killed himself with the same weapon.

In addition to that weapon, he possessed a pistol, a rifle with optics, and 302 pieces of ammunition. We have determined that the motives are of a business nature and related to the pre-bankruptcy procedure," said Kostanić.

He added that the perpetrator acquired and owned the Kalashnikov and all other weapons illegally, and they are now investigating how. Kostanić also denied the possibility that there was any indication that the killer would commit this crime because there was no farewell letter.

Motive of the murder – business relationship

"By reviewing the documentation and interviews, we determined that the motive for the crime was a business relationship between the suspect and the victims related to the bankruptcy proceedings against the suspect's company and the amount for which the suspect's real estate and movables were or should be sold," Kostanić said.

Bankruptcy proceedings are being studied. The criminal investigation continues in the establishing business relations and court proceedings at the Commercial Court in Zadar.

"These are all criminal offenses in the field of economic crime. Extensive documentation should be studied here, and, based on what we have established, we could fully explain the motive for the committed crime. The fact is that it was a business relationship and the consequences related to it," Kostanić said.

Suspect had his weapon confiscated earlier

The murder happened an hour after the three victims, and the killer met in a business meeting at a warehouse in Ražine. In Vodice, the killer came in front of the "Djelo" shopping center and waited for the fourth victim.

At the murder places near the warehouse in Ražine, the police found 16 shell casings of automatic weapons and 21 shell casings in the car of the 47-year-old. They found a CZ pistol and 125 pieces of ammunition, a silencer for an automatic rifle, and a knife in a holster in the vehicle of the person they presume to have killed.

In the Škoda, which was searched for on Saturday, the police found an automatic rifle with 28 rounds of ammunition and a hunting cartridge. In one of his houses, ammunition for a pistol, an air rifle with optics, and ammunition for a hunting rifle was found. Bankruptcy documentation was found in another house.

"Although he was a hunter, his weapon was illegal and was previously confiscated due to domestic violence. In 2009, the weapon was confiscated. In 2014 it was returned. However, in 2018, the weapon was confiscated again due to the threat to one person. No elements were identified then, but when the police entered the house, they found that the weapons were kept inconsistent with the law. And we filed a misdemeanor motion, and the proceedings were ongoing," the chief explained.

He added that the mentioned report for the threat had nothing to do with this event. It was about neighborly relations.

As TCN reported earlier, a 47-year-old businessman from Šibenik was killed in Vodice. A 42-year-old businessman, a 61-year-old bankruptcy trustee, and her 62-year-old husband were killed in Šibenik. The suspected 57-year-old businessman was found dead after the murder.

Source: Index

January 31, 2021 – The Sibenik police issued a statement about the quadruple murder and suicide yesterday in Vodice and Šibenik.

The area of Šibenik and Vodice was shaken by four murders yesterday, and later in the day, the perpetrator of the murders was also found dead. Here we bring a statement from the Šibenik police about the fourfold murder.

"At 12:56 pm, the Šibenik-Knin Police Department received a report that a dead man had been found in a vehicle next to the road in Vodice. Investigations established that it was a 47-year-old man who was found in a car with multiple gunshot wounds on the body.

At 1:23 pm, police received a report from the Emergency Medical Service of finding three dead people, two men and a woman, in a facility on the South Highway. During the investigation, it was determined that they were a 42-year-old man, 62-year-old man, and 61-year-old woman, who, as determined, died a violent death and had gunshot wounds on their bodies.

Considering the collected information, a search for the possible perpetrator was announced, and the public was informed that a gray Škoda Karoq vehicle, registration number ŠI-959-HF, was wanted. The entire operational staff of the Šibenik Police, together with the Zadar and Split-Dalmatia Police Directorates, established checkpoints at the entrances/exits to detect and locate the perpetrator.

During the investigation at both places where the dead bodies were found, led by the Deputy County State's Attorney from Šibenik, at 6:22 pm, we received a report that a personal vehicle was found in the Vodice area, as well as the dead body of a 57-year-old suspect.

The dead bodies of all persons were transported to the Pathology Department of the General Hospital in Šibenik for an autopsy and to determine the cause of death. The used vehicles were transferred to the Police Administration, where inspection activities will be carried out during the day.

Also, during the day, police officers will perform some additional measures and actions to connect all the events that preceded the commission of criminal offenses, after which it will be determined what the motive of the perpetrator was," reads the statement from the Šibenik police.

The police will inform the public about all the new information at a press conference tomorrow.

Although the Šibenik police did not reveal the victims' nor the murderer's identities, Croatian media soon found out who they were.

Jutarnji.hr reports that a well-known Šibenik businessman was first killed in his car in front of the "Djelo" shopping center in Vodice at around 1 pm. The entrepreneur, allegedly killed by a burst from an automatic rifle, was the head of the entire "Djelo" retail chain, one of the largest in the county and Dalmatia and Croatia, a member of the national "Ultra" chain.

Then three more dead bodies were found in Ražine, in the basement of the former Matkol bakery. It was soon learned that those three people were the director of Sabirač company, a well-known Šibenik bankruptcy trustee and HDZ city councilor, and her husband, who happened to be at the scene of the murder, allegedly driving his wife to a pre-arranged meeting.

It soon turned out that the perpetrator, who was eventually found dead next to the car in which he fled to the police, was also a well-known Šibenik businessman. He failed in his bakery business, and his company, which he had been building all his life, went bankrupt before the great crisis of 2008.

January 30, 2021 – Four people killed in the Sibenik area today. Namely, at about 1 pm, one man was killed in Vodice. Shortly afterward, information arrived about a shooting in Šibenik, where three more people were killed. At about 7 pm, the police found the killer's dead body near Vodice. It is presumed that he commited suicide.

According to the first information, one man was killed with an automatic rifle in front of the "Djelo" store in Vodice. Šibenik.hr unofficially reports that he is a well-known entrepreneur. The attacker continued the bloody raid in Šibenik, in a bakery in the Ražina area, where three other people were shot. However, the police have not yet confirmed the link between these two murders.

Shortly after 3 pm, the Šibenik police reported on the events in a statement.

"The Šibenik-Knin Police Department received a report at 12:56 pm that a dead man had been found in a vehicle by the road in Vodice. At 1:23 pm, police received a second report from the Ambulance about three dead people, two men and a woman, in a facility on the South Highway. Initial information indicates that persons died a violent death.

An investigation is underway at both sites, and at this moment, we cannot confirm whether the deaths were related. Additional police forces were immediately sent to the field to find the person that could be linked to the found persons' death.

The Šibenik-Knin Police Department will promptly inform the public with new, verified, and confirmed information," the Šibenik police reported.

As Jutarnji.hr reports, after a police's statement, unofficial information was published but soon refuted that the suspected perpetrator, allegedly the owner of a stumbled bakery chain, had killed himself. The police denied that information, publishing the car brand and license plates of the male person being linked to the events.

"In connection with the events mentioned above, we are bringing a male person driving a ŠKODA KAROQ personal vehicle, gray, with license plates ŠI-959-HF. We call on citizens to report the location to the police at the following telephone numbers: 192, 022 / 347-139, or 022 / 347-446. We warn citizens not to approach the vehicle but to inform the police immediately. "

Slobodna Dalmacija writes that he is allegedly in a house that is under siege by the police.

As Večernji.hr reports, the police surrounded the area where the perpetrator (or several perpetrators) of the murder in Šibenik and Vodice are allegedly hiding. There is no official confirmation of the number of perpetrators yet and the identity of those killed.

Information about the events change from moment to moment, and Croatian media report that among killed was the owner of a retail chain, Šibenik bankruptcy trustee and city councilwoman and her husband, and another creditor. Unofficial information says that the killer is the owner of a failed Šibenik company that had a number of bakeries and shops in the city, but went bankrupt. The victims' friends claim that an unresolved business relationship caused the tragedy.

The streets of Vodice have been flooded with special forces since early afternoon. A Mercedes in which the victim was allegedly sitting at the time of the murder was parked in front of the "Djelo" store. The Šibenik police are on the streets, the Šibenik bridge, and the intersection in Ražine, where they have set up blockades and inspect cars.

UPDATE:

As Hina reports, Branko Koloper, who killed four people in Šibenik and Vodice earlier today, was found dead after most likely committing suicide.

According to the first information from police, Koloper's dead body was found just before 7 pm in an open space near Vodice. The vehicle that the police were searching for was also found. An inquest should confirm whether it was a suicide, as is presumed. Police did not reveal his identity.

From sources close to the investigation, Koloper, the owner of the bankrupt company Matkol, killed the married couple Mario and Radojka Danek and Toni Šparada in Šibenik with automatic weapons. In Vodice, he killed the executive director of the Djelo retail chain, Tedi Slamić.

A spokesman for the Šibenik-Knin Police Department, Šime Pavić, previously confirmed that the perpetrator was in a business relationship with the victims. The murdered Radojka Danek was the bankruptcy trustee of Koloper's company Matkol, but also the Šibenik city councilor from the ranks of the HDZ.

According to media reports, the spouses Danek and Šparada were killed in Šibenik's Ražine, where Koloper has a production plant. After shooting them with a 'Kalashnikov', he allegedly drove to Vodice where he shot Slamić in front of his shop.

October 26, 2020 – One of the largest Poskok vipers has been spotted in the area around Vodice, another was filmed hanging from a tree

Autumn in Croatia is the time of harvest, when the land gives up its bounty in preparation for winter and spring renewal. Those taking part in the harvest near the Dalmatian town of Vodice are sure to be extra vigilant over forthcoming days as local media has reported sightings of poskok vipers in the local.

One local resident detailed to infovodice.com that they had seen a specimen of almost 100cm in length. This is the maximum size an adult can reach (they are usually only around 85cm). Another of the poskok vipers was filmed hanging from a tree.

Vipera ammodytes is known as the poskok in Croatia. This species of viper is only found in southern Europe and parts of the Middle East. Although commonly called the sand viper, it actually prefers to live on dry, rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation, although it can be found on the edges of woodland and in woodland clearings.

The most northerly regions in which poskok vipers can be found are southern Austria, north-east Italy and Slovenia. They can be found as far east as Georgia, Syria and eastern Turkey. They are most commonly found within the countries of the Balkan peninsula.

© Plamen Grigorov

In Croatia, it's possible to find them living throughout Dalmatia and Istria, on the islands of Krk, Pag, Vir, Ugljan, Pašman, Korčula, Hvar, Brač and Mljet and in the continental regions of Lika, Medvednica, Žumberak, Banovina, Kordun, Gorski kotar, Kalnik, Zagora and Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Poskok vipers are a protected species in Croatia. Although they carry the deadliest venom of any snake to be found in Europe, they do not usually attack people unless provoked. However, they can be provoked unwittingly.

Depending on the region and the temperature, in the autumn months, the snakes can climb into trees. They do so to keep warm and to hunt for birds which, alongside small mammals and lizards, form the base of their diets. They hunt larger prey by first biting with their venom, then tracking the poisoned prey until it succumbs to the bite.

© Andrea Bohl

People are at particular risk to the vipers while they are in the trees as they can unknowingly walk close enough to the snake to make it feel threatened. Between August and the end of October, female poskok vipers give birth.

Poskok vipers can react unpredictably when they feel they are in danger. Some remain motionless and hiss loudly, some hiss and then flee, while still others will immediately attempt to bite. It is this unpredictability that gives poskok vipers their Croatian name – poskok meaning 'jumping' snake. The snake doesn't actually jump, but it can strike and bite faster than any other European snake. It coils itself over the back of its body and then throws its front towards its victim and has a considerable reach when doing so, of up to 40 centimetres.

On average, bites from poskok vipers account for around 25 hospitalisations each year in Croatia. Deaths occurring as a result of a bite are these days extremely rare. Although the snakes can be mistakenly disturbed in the autumn, the most common period for poskok bites on humans in Croatia is actually between May and June. The venom of poskok vipers is used to make antidote serum used to treat bites from all European vipers. Poskok vipers are farmed in some parts of Europe specifically for this purpose.

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Good news for the residents of the island of Zlarin, located near the historic city of Šibenik in Dalmatia as a longtime desire of the island's locals is finally fulfilled.

As Morski writes on the 6th of January, 2019, Zlarin's permanent inhabitants have at least one less problem with the turning of the brand new year. As they state from Zlarin's local committee, after one hundred years of pleading with the powers that be, Zlarin's residents have finally had their wish granted, in the form of an additional ferry service which will operate on Sundays and during holidays.

"After one hundred years of pleading for this, we've now got an additional [ferry] line on Sundays and holidays which goes from Vodice at 15:00 to Prvić and Zlarin at 15:35, and then goes to Šibenik. Thank you very much to the cities of Šibenik and Vodice for their help, and to our colleagues from the local committees in Prvić for their very pleasant cooperation with us. And a huge thanks to our member of the local board, Katarina Gregov, on this sacrificial work, because had she not put her foot down as much as she did, we'd certainly not be hearing anything about this ferry line,'' they state from Zlarin's local committee via Facebook.

An additional 55,000 kuna was set aside for Zlarin's additional ferry line from the urban budget of the City of Vodice for 2019. On Sundays, the ferry line will run until the June 16th and then again from August the 26th through to the very end of the year. Unfortunately for many locals from Vodice, as well as visitors to that destination, the Sunday ferry line will not be in operation during the summer from June the 17th to August the 25th, according to a report from local portal Info Vodice.

The good news which came after this announcement was perhaps best summed up by local woman from Zlarin who simply wrote: ''Now I can come and go''.

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The flower bed actually represents the local tourist board.