Croatia observing day of mourning for earthquake victims
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo: Bracodbk/CC)
ZAGREB, 2 January (Hina) – Croatia declared 2 January 2021 as a Day of Mourning for the victims killed in the magnitude 6.2 earthquake which struck Sisak-Moslavina County on 29 December, taking seven lives, injuring dozens and causing huge damage.
On Saturday, when the day of mourning is being observed, flags are half-mast to honour the quake victims: a 12-year-old girl who was killed in the city of Petrinja, five residents in the village of Majske Poljane and an organist who was found under the rubble of a church in Zazina near Sisak.
Also, entertainment events scheduled for 2 January were cancelled. Religious services are being held in memory of the victims.
🖤🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/1phqYfBPeu
— MUP-RH (@mup_rh) January 2, 2021
More than 2,000 buildings, were damaged in the devastating earthquake that hit the area of Petrinja, some 50 kilometres south of Zagreb, at 12.19 pm last Tuesday.
The old town of Petrinja sustained the largest damage, also in the county five schools were razed to the ground, Sisak Hospital was seriously damaged, several religious buildings were destroyed, including the cathedral in the city of Sisak.
The intensity of this destructive earthquake has been estimated at VII-IX degrees on the EMS scale. The quake was felt across the country, the the Croatian Seismology Service said on its immediately after the quake.
Since the 29 December quake, aftershocks have been jolting the quake-hit Croatian areas.
Damage was reported on buildings in other nearby counties, too.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that Croatians were commemorating with deep grief the victims of the devastating earthquake.
In his message on the Twitter account Plenkovic said that “our thoughts and prayers are with their families and dearest ones whom we send condolences and the solidarity from the whole Croatian nation.”
The prime minister also thanked the Croatian nation for showing togetherness and many countries for the relief they have sent to Croatia.
“We will continue providing assistance to the people who lost their homes. The destroyed and damaged buildings will be reconstructed and repaired,” Plenkovic said.
