Zagreb marks anniversary of devastating earthquake

Exactly five years ago on 22 March - at 6:24 am - Zagreb was hit by a devastating earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale. 

The epicenter was seven kilometers north of the city center, in Markuševac. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Zagreb area in the last 140 years.

Tragically, a fifteen-year-old girl lost her life, while the capital city and surrounding area suffered an estimated 11.5 billion euros in damage.

The ongoing rebuild is expected to drag on well into the next decade.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković released the following message on his official X profile: 

"Unfortunately, the greatest tragedy of that fateful morning was the loss of a young life, fifteen-year-old Anamarija Carević, whom we remember with sadness today. This is an opportunity to remember and express our sincere gratitude to all the emergency services - firefighters, police, civil protection, healthcare workers, the military and engineers - as well as the many citizens who, despite the pandemic and their own personal troubles, showed incredible solidarity, courage and togetherness."

A total of 25,000 buildings were severely damaged, including homes, residential buildings, schools, churches, hospitals, public institutions, government buildings and the Croatian Parliament.