Parts of Krka National Park closed due to high water levels

The water level is being closely monitored in the Šibenik-Knin County, specifically in the Knin area, where the Krka River rises or falls by one centimeter at intervals, but the situation is currently normal when it comes to large amounts of precipitation. However, due to the high water level of the Krka River, for the first time in the history, parts of the Krka National Park are closed to visitors.

Knin firefighters could be seen with shovels and bags in the hands. It is necessary to prepare a defense against the overflow of Krka's tributaries into the surrounding area. The situation so far is satisfactory.

“We are taking measures where there are critical points. This is one of the critical points where we are now, we are preventing the connection of the river with the lagoon with improvised flood banks. As for the city of Knin itself, we have had occasional pumping out of private buildings and basements for the last three days, but it is still within some limits of the normal number of interventions,” said Miran Mrelja, commander of the Knin Public Fire Department.

Firefighters from Kistanje Volunteer Fire Department also intervened, in the municipality of Nunić on the border with Zadar county, sinkholes broke out and flooded the road and surrounding areas.

Some parts of the National Park are closed

Heavy rains have additionally strengthened the flow of the Krka in the parts where it overflows over travertine barriers.

For the first time in the 38 years since the establishment of the National Park, some of its parts are closed due to the high water level and the spilling of the Krka along the educational and hiking trails.

“The most visited localities Roški slap and Skradinski buk are, unfortunately, under water, and because of this we were forced to close precisely those parts of our park to visitors,” said the director of the Krka National Park, Nella Slavica.

In addition to rain and high river water levels, there are also problems due to the strong Sirocco wind. It took down a tree near the headquarters of the Police Administration in Šibenik - fortunately, there were no employees in the parked police van when the trunk fell on the vehicle.

Source: HRT