In the middle point of the COVID – 19 pandemic crisis, the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, on March 22, 2020, at 6.24 am, was hit by a severe earthquake of 5.5 degrees Richter. Over the next few days, the city was hit hundred or more times with one 5.0 degree stroke and several more with 3.0 degrees.

At least one hundred apartment buildings with more than three housing units have been vacated and residents were housed in the vacated university campus. The number of distressed single-family houses is still unknown. Numerous structures in suburban settlements were also damaged, most notably in Kašina, Stubicke Toplice (spa district), Marija Bistrica (the Marian shrine). One 15-year-old girl was killed in the quake, and hundreds were injured. According to initial and unofficial estimates, earthquake damage could reach more than € 500,000,000.

The greatest damage is in the center of Zagreb, where numerous buildings and palaces are located, which are of inestimable cultural and historical value from the period between the 18th and the middle of the 20th century. The Croatian Parliament, the seat of the Government, numerous museums and palaces from the medieval Upper Town were destroyed. Among other buildings, the Vranyczany Palace collapsed, where the office of the Croatian Maintenance Society (CMS) is placed. Due to the crisis caused by the pandemic and the earthquake, CMS canceled all seminars and the annual International MeditMaint Conference in Rovinj, Istria.

Dear Drago
Only now i learned about this horrific earthquake in Zagreb. There was no single mentioning in UK press or TV. It looks very bad, specially for the old city, that i love.
I hope you, yours and HDO members are ok. What a timing!!!
I also read in your message that Rovinj is cancelled. I shall try to cancel my flight ticket, which i purchased in February. Will keep you informed.
Please keep safe and hea;thy
With very best wishes for the best possible outcome of all of these "challenges" !!!!
jk

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Dear Drago
Please accept my deep condolences for the earthquake that damaged Zagreb, that brings an additional distress to the Covid epidemic that strikes your country as it strikes so many countries all over the world (including France, where we have to stay confined in our own housing).
With our best solidarity to your country
Best regards
Gerard Neyret
VP (h) of AFIM