Bačić: We are halfway through reconstruction, aim to complete all works by 2030

Hina - A total of 13,093 buildings damaged in the March and December 2020 earthquakes, known as the Zagreb and Petrinja earthquakes, have been reconstructed to date, including 12,364 private buildings and 729 public and infrastructure projects.

Construction Minister Branko Bačić said on Friday that the government aims to complete the reconstruction of all affected buildings by 2030.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Reconstruction Council, Bačić presented data on the progress made in 2023, as well as the latest figures as of today.

"In terms of timing, we are halfway through the period in which we aim to complete the full reconstruction of all buildings damaged in the earthquakes," he said. "The plan is to have all replacement houses built and occupied by mid-2027, while the reconstruction of all other buildings, primarily multi-apartment buildings, which are more demanding financially, structurally and operationally, should be completed by the end of 2030," he added.

Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Luka Korlaet also expressed satisfaction with the pace of reconstruction, noting that the City of Zagreb is primarily in charge of public building projects. Of the 207 projects under the city's remit, 187 have been completed, with only the 20 most complex ones remaining.

A historic reconstruction effort

So far, €3.53 billion has been spent on the reconstruction of public and private properties in Croatia, of which €2.04 billion relates to the Zagreb earthquake and €1.49 billion to the Petrinja earthquake.

Through the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF), contracts have been signed for 1,309 public and infrastructure projects, with a total value of €3.82 billion, of which €1.003 billion comes directly from the EUSF. A total of 1,103 of these projects have been completed.

Currently, procurement procedures are ongoing for 1,246 locations, including 345 multi-apartment buildings (comprising 2,531 units) and 901 family homes, with a combined value of €88.4 million.

"Given the scale and scope of the reconstruction, this is truly a historic effort, not only for Zagreb but also for the surrounding counties," Bačić said during the Council session.

In the case of buildings damaged in the Zagreb earthquake, reconstruction has been completed at 3,812 locations (covering 35,742 residential units), and work is ongoing at 766 locations, of which 99 are EUSF-funded projects.

As for the Petrinja earthquake, reconstruction has been completed at 9,281 locations (covering 13,239 residential units), with works active at 1,135 sites, including 76 EUSF-funded projects.

Reconstructed public buildings to open their doors on fifth anniversary of Zagreb earthquake

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Zagreb earthquake, on 22 March, reconstructed public buildings at multiple locations in Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje County and Zagreb County will be opened to the public.

These include hospitals, schools, museums, religious buildings and government offices, where citizens will have the opportunity to learn about the reconstruction process through guided tours and explore fully renovated, energy-efficient and modernised spaces. Buildings will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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