Man dies in cannon accident during Easter Monday ceremony in Zagorje

A man has died after a cannon misfired during a traditional Easter Monday ceremony near Veliki Tabor Castle in northern Croatia.

The accident happened shortly after 3 p.m. in the municipality of Desinić, in front of several hundred spectators.

Police say emergency services were dispatched after receiving a call through the 112 center. One person died at the scene.

“The area has been secured, and an investigation is underway,” said Marijana Mužar, a spokesperson for the Krapina-Zagorje Police Department.

According to unofficial information, the victim, a 55-year-old member of a local antique firearms club, was handling a cannon when it misfired. He then attempted to reload it, and it discharged again.

The Easter Monday ceremony in Veliki Tabor traditionally includes the firing of antique rifles and cannons, a custom dating back centuries.

Local authorities are calling the incident an unprecedented tragedy. The mayor of Desinić, Dražen Šurbek, says the community is in shock.

“We are all in great shock. This is a great tragedy for a small town like Desinić. It is outrageous and God forbid it ever happens again,” said Šurbek.