Croatia Adriatic search: One of four missing Portuguese found alive on Krk
Synopsis
A young Portuguese woman was pulled alive from a cove on Croatia's island of Krk after she and three friends went missing overnight in a 1.5-metre inflatable boat on the storm-lashed Adriatic. With waves reaching three metres and three people still unaccounted for, the rescue operation is a race against time — and the sea.
Key Takeaways
One of four missing Portuguese nationals was found alive in a cove on the island of Krk on 12 August .
The group had set out in a small inflatable boat no more than 1.5 metres long from a campsite north of Senj .
MRCC Rijeka received the distress alert at 4:41 am local time and launched a coordinated search and rescue operation.
Sea conditions were severe, with waves up to three metres high in the Velebit Channel .
An abandoned floating object matching the group's boat description was found near Krk ; search for the remaining three continues.
In a separate June incident, a boat collision in the Split maritime zone killed three people and left one missing.
One of four Portuguese nationals who went missing overnight off Croatia's Adriatic coast was found alive in a cove on the island of Krk on Wednesday, 12 August, and handed over to emergency medical services. Harbour master Nenad Bugarin confirmed the rescue to media, even as the search for the remaining three continued.
How the Rescue Unfolded
The rescued woman told rescuers that another member of the group had been near her just 20 minutes before she was found — but that individual had not yet been located, according to Bugarin. Rescuers also found an abandoned floating object near the coast of Krk that matches the description of the small inflatable boat the group had been using.
What Triggered the Search Operation
Croatia's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka (MRCC Rijeka) launched a coordinated search and rescue operation after receiving a distress report at 4:41 am local time (0241 GMT). An acquaintance of the missing group alerted authorities, stating that the four friends had set out to paddle a small inflatable boat — no more than 1.5 metres in length — from a campsite north of the coastal town of Senj, before contact was lost. The Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure confirmed the operation was underway.
Severe Sea Conditions Hampered the Search
Sea conditions in the Velebit Channel had been severe since Tuesday, with strong wind gusts and waves reaching up to three metres in height. The dangerous conditions are believed to have contributed to the group losing control of the vessel. A craft of only 1.5 metres is considered wholly unsuitable for open-sea conditions of this severity.
Context: Croatia's Adriatic Has Seen Prior Maritime Incidents
This is not the first maritime emergency along Croatia's Adriatic coast in recent months. In June, a collision between a catamaran and a sailboat in the Split maritime zone — specifically between the islands of Solta and Brac — killed three people on 14 June, with one person remaining missing. All fatalities were passengers aboard the sailboat, which was carrying eight people in total and reportedly sank immediately after impact. Four others were treated at the scene, none requiring hospitalisation, according to the Split-Dalmatia County Police Administration. The back-to-back incidents raise questions about safety awareness among tourists venturing into the Adriatic's notoriously unpredictable open channels.
Search Operation Ongoing
As of the latest reports, rescue teams remain deployed in the area. The fate of the remaining three Portuguese nationals is unknown, and authorities have not yet indicated when the operation may be scaled back. All eyes are on the weather window and whether conditions ease enough to expand the search perimeter.
Point of View
Combined with Croatia's peak summer season, points to a systemic gap in waterfront safety advisories. Authorities confirmed the boat within hours; the harder question is why the group was able to set out at all. Two major maritime emergencies within two months on the same coastline should prompt a harder look at campsite-level safety briefings and equipment checks for non-motorised watercraft.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the four Portuguese nationals missing off Croatia?
Four young Portuguese nationals went missing overnight after paddling a small inflatable boat from a campsite north of Senj on Croatia's Adriatic coast. One woman was found alive in a cove on the island of Krk on 12 August; the search for the remaining three is ongoing.
Where exactly were the missing Portuguese nationals found?
The one survivor was recovered from a cove on the island of Krk in Croatia. An abandoned floating object matching the group's boat was also found near Krk's coast.
What were the sea conditions during the Croatia Adriatic search?
Conditions in the Velebit Channel were severe from Tuesday onwards, with strong wind gusts and waves reaching up to three metres in height — extremely dangerous for a 1.5-metre inflatable boat.
Who is conducting the search and rescue operation?
Croatia's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka (MRCC Rijeka) is leading the operation, supported by the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. The search was launched after a distress call at 4:41 am local time on 12 August.
Has Croatia seen other maritime incidents recently?
Yes. In June, a catamaran and a sailboat collided between the islands of Solta and Brac in the Split maritime zone, killing three people and leaving one missing. All fatalities were sailboat passengers; the vessel, carrying eight people, reportedly sank immediately after impact.
