Fifth anniversary of the Banovina earthquake - after the ruins, a new perspective

Five years after the earthquake that on December 29, 2020, forever changed the face of Banovina, Sisak, Petrinja and Glina are cities with a new perspective, the earthquake left ruins, fear and uncertainty, but also, as can be seen with hindsight, an opportunity that, despite the difficulties, was largely used.

In the first days after the devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake, it seemed unthinkable that the destroyed city centers would ever return to life. Churches without towers, schools with closed doors, hospitals with makeshift wards and thousands of people without homes became everyday life.

In the renovated hospital, conditions that were not even in the plans before

However, it was the scale of the disaster that opened the way for a thorough, not cosmetic, renovation that not only restored the old condition, but also built better and safer facilities.

Today, Sisak is a city of renovated hospital buildings, more modern infrastructure and a stronger healthcare system. The Dr. Ivo Pedišić General Hospital has received new and statically safe facilities, modern equipment and working conditions that were not even planned before the earthquake.

The Sisak hospital is experiencing a new enthusiasm shared by doctors and hospital staff, and news regularly comes from there about successful surgical procedures that could not have been performed before the earthquake.

Health care, which functioned during the crisis months thanks to enthusiasm and improvisation, now relies on renovated and newly built facilities, which is a long-term benefit not only for Sisak, but also for the entire region.

10 health centers have been built in the county, 20 schools have been renovated, four new ones have been built and another one is being completed, a student dormitory is being built, 45 apartment buildings have been erected, and almost 300 kilometers of roads have been renovated.

The situation is similar in Petrinja, which was the epicenter of the destruction. The city center, once a symbol of earthquakes, is now slowly transforming into a symbol of renewal - new buildings, renovated historic facades and safer infrastructure are creating the foundations for the return of life, the economy and young families.

Schools and kindergartens have been built or renovated according to modern standards, with an emphasis on safety, energy efficiency and quality of space for children. If it hadn't been for the earthquake, it is unlikely that such a thorough renovation of the education system would have come so soon.

Glina, neglected for years, has experienced perhaps the biggest turnaround. The renovation of public buildings, schools and social homes has given the city new visibility and hope that it will no longer be on the margins.

If we have lasted five years, we will last another year and a half

The earthquake, paradoxically, accelerated processes that had been delayed for decades; without it, such changes would have taken decades more to happen.

This is especially true for family homes. Thousands of homes were rebuilt or thoroughly renovated, this time according to strict earthquake-resistant regulations.

Although the owners have gone through a long and exhausting journey to reconstruction, the result is safer homes and more dignified living conditions than before 2020. Some have received basic infrastructure that is taken for granted in developed countries in the 21st century for the first time.

Many families have also spent this Christmas in containers or temporary accommodation, as most family homes are still awaiting reconstruction. Nevertheless, there is optimism in the affected area, and the completion of reconstruction is announced by mid-2027.

“Another year and a half, if we lasted five years, we will last another year and a half,” say people in the affected villages. On the fifth anniversary of the earthquake, memories and emotions have returned to these areas.

In Strašnik, where the epicenter of the earthquake was, locals gathered for a Christmas party as a symbol of togetherness and hope. Laughter, music and a festive atmosphere filled the space that was once filled with fear and uncertainty.

Christmas was particularly emotional for the Kurjak family in Donje Mokrice, because after five years they welcomed and celebrated Christmas in a new house built on the site of the old one that was destroyed in the earthquake.

“The house is 55 square meters, there are two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, a dining room, a kitchen and a small hallway, which is enough for us,” says housewife Marinela Kurjak.

The memory of the earthquake is no longer paralyzing

In Donje Mokrice, most of the damaged family houses have still not been rebuilt, and people live in containers or replacement buildings. People in that area are strong and persistent, believing that they too will soon move into new homes.

Five years later, the memory of the earthquake is still painful, but no longer paralyzing. Instead, it has become a reminder of the power of solidarity and the fact that opportunity can emerge from tragedy.

More than a billion euros have been earmarked in the state budget for next year to continue the reconstruction, with the reconstruction of houses to be completed by mid-2027, and the entire reconstruction process to be completed by 2030.

Source: HRT