ZAGREB, 29 Dec 2021 - President Zoran Milanović began his tour of the areas of Sisak-Moslavina County devastated in an earthquake that hit the region exactly a year ago on Wednesday by visiting Sisak, where he met with earthquake victims staying in container homes.
Accompanied by Sisak Mayor Kristina Ikić Baniček and her aides, Milanović spoke to people who were made homeless by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck on 29 December 2020. Seven people were killed in the disaster and another person died several months later from severe injuries. The earthquake was preceded by a magnitude 5.0 tremor the previous day and was followed by aftershocks throughout the year.
The earthquake victims expressed fears that they would have to stay in temporary accommodation for a long time to come because even a year after the disaster they still had no information about plans for the reconstruction of their buildings.
"I am glad that President Milanović's visit has achieved a desired effect because two days ago, when we announced the president's visit, the Ministry of Construction and State Assets notified the residents that a construction engineer would assess the damage on their buildings within the next 60 days," Mayor Ikić Baniček told reporters after the conversation with the earthquake victims.
"It was a constructive conversation during which the residents told the president they felt forgotten. At the same time, the HEP energy company is still charging them for heating even though they are not living in their damaged flats," she noted.
After visiting Sisak, Milanović went to Petrinja, where he talked to earthquake victims staying in container homes, and visited the Norković family in Novo Selo Glinsko. He is also scheduled to visit Majske Poljane, where he is due to meet with the Bjelajac family, and Glina, where he will meet with volunteers from the Chefs Club Croatia, independent volunteers from Zagreb, Istria and Banovina, and civil society activists.
