PM opens exhibition of Hina photos ahead of fifth earthquake anniversary

Hina - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković opened a photography exhibition by Hina photojournalists on Monday, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and the completion of the restoration of Hina’s headquarters.

He said the reconstruction of most public buildings could be completed by 2027, with overall recovery efforts extending until the end of the decade.

"I would like to thank all the photojournalists whose work is displayed in this exhibition, documenting what struck Zagreb and Banovina five years ago and how much progress we have made in the reconstruction since then," said the prime minister.

The exhibition, marking five years of post-earthquake reconstruction following the 5.5-magnitude tremor, was visited by Plenković alongside Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek and Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Minister Branko Bačić.

It features 58 photographs showcasing the extent of the damage caused by the earthquakes of 22 March and 29 December 2020, as well as the restoration of the Heinzel House, Hina’s headquarters and a protected cultural heritage site.

The exhibition serves as a historical record, highlighting the media's role in times of crisis and reminding the public of the challenges faced by affected residents in the City of Zagreb, Sisak-Moslavina, Karlovac and Zagreb Counties. Beyond depicting the devastation, it underscores the importance of systematically restoring cultural heritage.

Plenković: The government is committed to giving Zagreb a new look

"We have so far invested over €2 billion in Zagreb’s reconstruction and €1.5 billion in Banovina. These funds have enabled major progress in recent years," the prime minister said, adding that the government’s approach was not merely to restore buildings to their previous state.

"When you look at Zagreb, it becomes clear how committed the government has been to ensuring that the city quickly, though such processes cannot happen overnight, gets a literally new look. The reconstruction has also been used to renovate, and in some cases almost entirely rebuild, the healthcare system. The same applies to schools, kindergartens, universities."

Hina was among the first public institutions in Zagreb to begin seismic retrofitting in April 2022. By the end of that year, the main restoration work on the façade of architect and former mayor Vjekoslav Heinzel’s historically significant building had been completed. It is located within Zagreb’s historic urban core.

The seismic retrofitting was completed in June 2023, followed by comprehensive renovations, including energy efficiency upgrades and interior refurbishment.

The project, valued at approximately €7 million, was carried out under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Media and financed by the EU Solidarity Fund and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Hina’s director and the minister of culture and media highlight the media’s role in crises

This exhibition symbolically marks the completion of the building’s restoration and emphasises the unique role of media, especially public media, in times of crisis, said Hina director Branka Gabriela Vojvodić.

"For five years, HINA employees have been working under truly difficult conditions, and I thank them for ensuring that this never affected the quality of news production, which only increased. Our new (and old) home has been restored, and we look forward to returning as soon as possible," she added.

She thanked the government, especially Minister Obuljen Koržinek and the Ministry of Culture and Media staff, for their wholehearted support and excellent cooperation throughout the reconstruction.

Obuljen Koržinek stressed the media’s crucial role not only in peacetime but also in times of disaster. "That's why I'm pleased that this exhibition has been set up, to highlight that photojournalists, reporters and cameramen were there on day one of the catastrophe, alongside emergency services. This will serve as a valuable reminder of everything that happened."

Although the earthquake caused immense damage, it also presented a major opportunity in terms of cultural heritage, she noted. "Through the ministry, we have restored or are in the process of restoring more than 500 buildings, including 290 comprehensive projects. Over 150 have already been completed, which is truly a historic achievement we should all be proud of," she said, inviting citizens to attend the open day on Saturday and visit the exhibition.

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