December the 30th, 2020 - The Croatian company Valamar Riviera, otherwise the largest tourism company in the country, has opened the doors of its facilities and offered accommodation to families who have lost their homes in the Petrinja earthquake.

As Poslovni Dnevnik, Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, and the surrounding areas are full of families who have lost their homes and everything they once held dear in the horrendous earthquake which struck Central Croatia. The giant Croatian company Valamar has responded quickly.

The compant has made its Istria Premium Camping Resort in Funtana near Porec, Jezevac Premium Camping Resort on the island of Krk and Hotel Valamar Sanfior in Rabac available to families from Sisak-Moslavina County who have lost their properties in the earthquake and have nowhere else to go. Accommodation in camping resorts, in fully equipped camping houses, is available from today, December the 30th, and in the hotel Sanfior on a full board basis from tomorrow, December the 31st, 2020.

All those who need accommodation or who would like more information and to make arrangements can call 052/465 000 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Office for Reconstruction and Housing: 230 housing units are ready to provide temporary accommodation to those who have lost their homes as a result of the earthquake.

The Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing will make available 230 housing units for temporary accommodation of families in need, whose houses have been damaged or destroyed in Sisak-Moslavina County, from the available housing fund it manages.

The above was published on Wednesday on the website of the Central State Office, which states that, out of those 230 housing units, 44 housing units are equipped with furniture and household appliances.

For more, follow today's live updates. For more on how you can help by donating money, food, material and humanitarian aid, click here and here.

December 30, 2020 - After Dubrovnik, Split, Sibenik, and Zadar were the first to announce that they were canceling New Year's programs and sending funds to Petrinja, a chain reaction started - about 20 cities announced the same or have already paid aid. 

Dalmatinski Portal reports that the catastrophic earthquake that destroyed Petrinja yesterday and caused terrible damage in Glina and Sisak united and brought the whole country to its feet. Help is coming from all over Croatia, from firefighters and volunteers - and on Tuesday night alone, over 1,500 people arrived in the Petrinja area eager to help with food, clothes, blankets, and heaters.

Cities have also been mobilized to organize the collection of humanitarian aid and accommodation for families left homeless and send what is currently most important - the money needed to repair the damage and start reconstruction.

The mayors of four Dalmatian cities - Dubrovnik, Split, Sibenik, and Zadar - were the first to organize an emergency video meeting yesterday to cancel the planned New Year's programs and immediately pay 150,000 kuna each to help Petrinja.

The same amount, 150 thousand kuna, will be donated by the City of Bakar and the Industrial Zone Bakar and Crikvenica.

Đakovo and Rijeka immediately decided and paid 200 thousand kuna each, and Osijek will donate 100 thousand kuna. The City of Trilj, Vodice, and the City of Metković also set aside 100,000 kuna each, and on Wednesday morning, they paid 70,000 to the City of Petrinja and 30,000 to Glina.

The City of Vinkovci will also allocate 100 thousand kuna to help Petrinja. It was also decided that city companies and institutions will help, delivering 250 packages with various supplies to the Red Cross. City employees also joined the action, giving up a part of their salary to help the victims and the aid packages collected so far.

The city of Kastav announced that it would help the earthquake-affected areas with 75,000 kuna, and Bjelovar and Donja Stubica with 50,000 each. The City of Zlatar will donate the same amount, 20 thousand kuna to Petrinja and 15 thousand kuna to Sisak and Glina.

The city of Požega will also help with 50 thousand kuna, and Mayor Darko Puljašić announced that HDZ city councilors would give up two councilor benefits in favor of the victims, which will also be donated.

The City of Trogir has decided to cancel the New Year's fireworks and pay 70 thousand kuna to help Petrinja, Sisak, and Glina, and Valpovo, Supetar, and Vrbovec will do the same. Financial aid was also announced from the City of Bakar and Beli Manastir.

Istria County and Istrian towns will pay 200,000 kuna.

The largest amount so far, half a million kuna, has been set aside by the City of Samobor. Specifically, the city of Petrinja will be helped with 200 thousand kuna, and Sisak and Glina with 150 thousand kuna each, and the aid will be paid today.

"The citizens of Samobor, as well as the City Administration, are always ready to help, especially in such situations when we are all left without words. The disaster that struck Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, and the surrounding places require compassion and help from all of us. Samobor is with you!" the message reads.

The second-largest amount - 300 thousand kuna, comes from Opatija. Namely, as reported, the City of Opatija and the City Council of Opatija will jointly pay 300 thousand kuna to the Red Cross's open account to help the victims of the devastating earthquake.

We believe and are sure that all other cities will join this action, at least in symbolic amounts. We hereby invite them to show solidarity and help those who were left without everything at the end of this terrible year.

Follow our live updates on the situation in Croatia's earthquake-hit areas here; find out how you can donate here.

ZAGREB, Dec 30, 2020 - Pope Francis said on Wednesday he was praying for those who lost their lives in the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck Croatia on Tuesday as well as for their families and all those affected.

"Yesterday, an earthquake in Croatia caused victims and caused serious damage. I express my closeness to the wounded and to those who have been affected by the quake and I pray in particular for those who have lost their lives and for their families," the pope tweeted.

Croatia's Information Catholic Agency said that at the end of his regular general audience, the pontiff voiced hope that the international community will help the authorities in Croatia mitigate the suffering of its citizens.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic thanked the pope in a tweet for his solidarity and prayers.

December the 30th, 2020 - Due to the devastating earthquakes that hit Sisak-Moslavina County, especially the areas of ​​Petrinja, Sisak and Glina, central Croatia is currently facing an enormous humanitarian crisis, and the needs and challenges are constantly growing. As such, UNICEF has launched a campaign to aid kids suffering as a result of the latest devastating Croatian earthquake.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, in order to respond to the crisis, UNICEF is preparing to deliver key supplies and protective equipment to the affected areas and to provide psychosocial assistance to children and parents affected by this Croatian earthquake, as well as support to kindergartens, schools and health facilities, and social welfare institutions. This crisis has a devastating long-term effect on the lives of children who are particularly vulnerable to such instances. It is important to protect them and alleviate their difficult situation, and even long after the earthquake - they will continue to need special care.

UNICEF has launched a campaign and is calling on all Croatian residents, companies and the media to get involved and help children and families in earthquake-ravaged areas with their donations. Everyone needs support and help in order to overcome these difficult challenges together and to provide support and security to the most vulnerable children and families in the coming period.

UNICEF has already launched the procurement of emergency supplies and equipment and, in cooperation with numerous institutions, is busy assessing long-term needs, and given the growing challenges, is calling on the people of Croatia and domestic companies to donate to help children and families in Petrinja, Sisak, Glina and other areas affected by this terrible Croatian earthquake.

Donations to children and families in earthquake-ravaged areas help ensure:

Hygiene supplies and protective equipment
Psychosocial assistance for children and parents
Support to kindergartens and schools
Support to health facilities and social services.
Donations can be made on this website: https://www.unicef.hr/pomozite-djeci-pogodjenoj-potresima/ and to the UNICEF account number: HR1723600001501092524, reference number 2068-98.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake, follow today's live updates. For more on how you can help, click here.

December the 30th, 2020 - Both those of us who live in Croatia and those abroad can now make their donations to the Petrinja earthquake victims free of charge thanks to the opening of a special account especially for them.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a special donation account has been opened at Hrvatska postanska banka (HPB) for the payment of donations to the City of Petrinja, and the bank has invited all residents of Croatia who are able to participate in the fundraising campaign for the Petrinja earthquake victims to do precisely that - and free of any additional charges.

The money donated to the Petrinja earthquake victims will go to help to repair the damage caused in the areas within Petrinja and Sisak-Moslavina County affected by the recent devastating earthquake as soon as possible.

Residents of Croatia who have Croatian bank accounts can make their donations free of charge on following IBAN: HR28 23900011500198069 with the accompanying reference number HR68 PNB 7765-oib, and for payments from abroad, people can do so here: SWIFT HPBZHR2X. The specified account is multi-currency, meaning that the donations do not necessarily have to be made in Croatian kuna or in euros.

In order to help those Petrinja earthquake victims whose homes were destroyed in yesterday's natural disaster, and as a means of expressing its social responsibility towards the community in which it operates, Hrvatska postanska banka has donated one million kuna to the City of Petrinja.

For more, follow our live updates. For more on how you can donate money, food and other material/humanitarian aid, click here.

December 30, 2020 – Due to yesterday's devastating 6,3 magnitude eathquake, schools in Sisak, Petrinja and Glina are damaged, and five of them are entirely unusable.

As Hina reports, Minister of Science and Education Radovan Fuchs said today that, in addition to the five unusable schools, nine of them would be able to be repaired, and thirteen will be able to function. Also, Minister Fuchs announced that he and his associates would visit the area today.

More than 5,000 students left without school buildings

"Five schools are completely unusable, nine will be able to be repaired, but serious reconstructions are needed. We have thirteen schools that will be able to function," Minister Fuchs told reporters ahead of a government session at the National and University Library.

Minister added that 3489 students were left without a school building in Sisak, and 1843 students in Petrinja. They will plan on how to organize the classes.

As TCN has learned, the First Primary School in Petrinja, located in the very center of the city, which was hit hard, was utterly demolished. Classes can no longer take place there because the roof of the building has fallen to the first floor of the school.

Petrinja High School's principal says he and three employees were at the school at the time of the earthquake. When the quake struck, the building began to collapse. They moved to a safe place and then went down to the schoolyard. The ground beneath them was still swaying. The walls were damaged and cracked. According to the principal's estimate, the entire school will need significant reparation.

'The return will not be easy'

The earthquake also caused great damage to the High School in Glina.

"At the time of the earthquake, several employees found themselves at the school and, thank God, came out unscathed at the last minute. I am afraid that the return will be neither easy nor so soon. The photos say it all. After visiting most of the classrooms and offices, we will need help," said Glina High School's principal on the school's Facebook page.

She was hit by an earthquake in the center of Glina, 15 minutes after she left her office at the school. Unfortunately, the retired school janitor and his son are among the dead.

The principal of Viktorovac High School in Sisak says the earthquake was really terrible.

Zagreb schools to accept students

As Jutarnji list reports, the head of the Zagreb City Office for Education, Ivica Lovrić, said that yesterday's earthquake did not cause significant damage to school buildings in Zagreb.

"All Zagreb schools will be able to accept students on January 18. The good thing is that after the earthquake in March, we rebuilt most of the damaged school buildings, so we have no major damage after yesterday's earthquake. We hope that the epidemiological situation will be such that in the new semester, we will start with model A, that is, school teaching," said Lovrić.

This morning, the structural engineer visited two regional schools in Brezovica, but apart from minor cracks in the walls, there is no damage.

Sister of Mercy Danijela Dinjar, principal of the Women's General Gymnasium, whose buildings are in Varšavska and Gundulićeva streets in Zagreb, confirms that yesterday's earthquake intensified previous damage that has not yet been fully repaired.

"The once walled door and part of the ceiling above the end wall of the building collapsed. Three classrooms are not for use, so in the second half of the year, we will teach in a building in Varšavska Street, and we will renovate the rest when we have the funds," says the principal, whose school is attended by 214 students this school year.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake, follow today's live updates. For more on how you can help, click here.

December the 30th, 2020 - Very generous and welcome help from numerous European countries arrives to help Croatia earthquake victims from Petrinja, Sisak, Glina and other deeply affected areas.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the first emergency aid arrived from neigbouring Slovenia to help following the devastating earthquake in the area of ​​Petrinja and Sisak has arrived. The move came after Croatia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism - the EU emergency aid programme, the Croatian Civil Protection Directorate announced on Wednesday.

Slovenia's help for Croatia earthquake victims arrived late on Tuesday night at around 23:00 - It included four containers, twelve bunk beds with 24 mattresses and 200 sleeping bags, reports N1.

This humanitarian aid arrived during the night at the central warehouse of the Civil Protection in the continental Croatian town of Jastrebarsko, from where it went on to be transported to the affected areas in accordance with the assessed needs, according to the Directorate of Civil Protection of the Republic of Croatia.

In addition to Slovenia, Croatia's call for aid was responded to with 470 folding beds from Austria, 100 winter tents from Italy, 40 tents and 50 electric heaters, 500 folding beds and 500 sleeping bags from Greece, 50 tents, 100 folding beds, 200 sleeping bags and 14 containers for housing from Romania, 60 tents and 2,000 folding beds from Sweden, lamps with protection, 1 tower for lighting, 10 electric heaters, 600 folding beds and 1,200 sleeping bags from the Czech Republic.

On Tuesday, Croatia activated the Civil Protection Union Mechanism - an EU emergency programme, and requested winter tents for 6 to 8 people, lamps with protection from the PVC network (indoor ones), lighting balloons / lighting towers, electric heaters, collapsible beds, sleeping bags and containers for housing, the Directorate of the Central Committee of the Republic of Croatia announced.

For more, follow our live updates for today. For more on how you can donate funds and humanitarian aid to the Croatia earthquake victims of Petrinja, Sisak, Glina and more, click here.

December 30, 2020 – After yesterday's devastating earthquake in Petrinja and Sisak, help comes from another part of the world. Croatians in Canada initiated a fundraiser action GoFundMe and raised over 70,000 dollars so far!

Yesterday's earthquake encouraged people from all over Croatia to collect food and hygiene supplies for people affected by the earthquake, but also to launch much-needed donation actions. Donations started arriving yesterday from neighboring countries (Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia) and other parts of the world, namely, Canada.

The news of the devastating earthquake centered in Petrinja has galvanized the Croatian community in Canada into action. Mirjana Jerkovic, a very active member of the Croatian community in Canada, organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to collect donations for people affected by Croatia's earthquake.

In less than 24 hours, a GoFundMe fundraiser has raised over 70,000 dollars. This fundraiser is trending in Canada and is currently the 7th largest fundraiser taking place in Canada. Close to 700 people have donated to this worthy cause, from Mississauga, other parts of the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, and across Canada.

Mirjana is a long time member of the executive board of the Vatroslav Lisinski Tambura Orchestra of Mississauga, Ontario, and is well known in Croatian folklore circles in Canada. Her husband is a native of Vinkovci.

"Our Canadian-Croatian community is strong and has always helped our Croatian homeland. Let's show our support and donate to those most affected by the horrific earthquake on December 29, 2020. All funds will be donated to families, and we will post delivery! Please share! Bože, čuvaj Hrvatsku," reads her statement at GoFundMe.

Father Marko Štefanec of Holy Cross Croatian parish in Hamilton, Ontario, has produced a video encouraging Croats in Canada to give to those in need due to this earthquake.

"Due to Canadian bureaucracy, it is very difficult for Croatian parishes across Canada to send money outside Canada. Therefore, the best way to help is through these two platforms – fundraisers GoFundMe and Caritas Croatia," says Štefanec in the video below.

You can pay donations via GoFundMe website or through the Caritas Croatia website.

For more, follow today's live updates. To find out how you too can donate money, food, material and humanitarian aid, click here.

December the 30th, 2020 - Two major earthquakes struck Petrinja and Sisak causing enormous levels of damage, more or less destroying the towns. As such, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property have called on all Croatian companies that have the necessary machinery to make themselves available and help those affected.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, currently, the most needed help is clearing the rubble, and anyone who has trucks, loaders and other machinery can help with that immediately. Croatian companies that are willing to make their resources available can contact the Construction Department of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (tel: 01 460 6707, 01 460 6747) or the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property (tel: 01/3782 143, 01/3782 445).

"In these difficult moments, we're all aware that our reaction must be quick and concrete, so we'd like to appeal to everyone to invest their resources and time to help out," said the president of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce Luka Burilovic.

An appeal to Croatian companies and all other individuals for help was also sent out by HUP.

"In these difficult times, which we've all witnessed, we sympathise with our fellow citizens who are particularly affected by this devastating earthquake. Each of you certainly has at least one friend, employee, seasonal employee, family member, partner or customer from Petrinja and Sisak. Maybe you went to school with someone from there. Maybe you cooperated with a company or two from this once highly industrial part of Croatia. It's very likely that one of these people or a member of his or her family was killed in the earthquake,'' they stated from HUP.

The aforementioned association therefore decided to collect donations to help all of the residents of Sisak, Petrinja and the surrounding areas where the earthquake damaged homes and other property.

''Let's show that HUP is made up of entrepreneurs and employers with big hearts, who care about individuals and the poorest parts of Croatia. Let's all come together to help those people who, throughout history, have always and unreservedly been ready to bear the heaviest burdens for all the rest of us,'' they said from HUP.

Anyone who wants to donate and thus help can do so by making a payment to the account:

The Croatian Employers' Association (Hrvatska Udruga Poslodavca/HUP)

Radnicka cesta 52, Zagreb

Privredna banka Zagreb, Radnicka cesta 50, Zagreb

IBAN: HR7123400091510359955

Reference number: OIB of the company

Description: HUP earthquake donation

The funds they collect will be given to those most in need, and HUP have extended their thanks in advance to everyone who donates or helps in any way.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake, follow our live updates for today. For more on how you can help/donate, click here.

December the 30th, 2020 - Croatian Parliament President Gordan Jandrokovic has called on all MPs to donate part of their salary to the victims of yesterday's devastating Petrinja earthquake which affected several continental Croatian towns, ruining buildings, causing injury and tragically even taking multiple lives.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, on Wednesday, the President of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandrokovic, called on all members of parliament to donate money and other materials to help victims in earthquake-stricken Sisak-Moslavina County. He noted that all MPs should give up part of their salary for December.

"Dear colleagues, we're witnessing a great tragedy caused by the devastating earthquake that struck many residents of Sisak-Moslavina County, but also the rest of Croatia," said Gordan Jandrokovic.

''Unfortunately, according to currently available information, seven human lives have been lost. And while nobody can bring back the lives of the victims, the earthquake has caused great material losses and financial damage that we can jointly compensate for,'' he continued.

He therefore suggested that they all give up part of their salaries for the month of December.

''I'd like to invite you to join the numerous Croatian citizens who are selflessly helping all the victims and come together to show solidarity, as was done after the Zagreb earthquake in March. I'm suggesting that we all give up a part of our salaries for December and pay a monetary donation into the accounts of the Croatian Red Cross or Croatian Caritas,'' Gordan Jandrokovic proposed to Croatia's MPs.

''Thank you in advance to everyone who intends to respond to this invitation, as well as for any other help you're already showing,'' concluded Gordan Jandrokovic, who is himself visiting Petrinja and Glina on Wednesday.

For more, follow today's live updates. To find out how you too can donate money, food, material and humanitarian aid, click here.