Minister: Post-earthquake reconstruction in Krapina-Zagorje County nearing completion

Hina - Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić stated on Tuesday in Sveti Križ Začretje that post-earthquake reconstruction in the Zagorje region is nearing completion, estimating that the entire process could be finished within a year and a half.

During his official visit to families in Donja Stubica and Gornja Stubica and Sveti Križ Začretje, whose replacement family homes have been built, Bačić noted that so far 192 private properties have been restored and 17 new family homes constructed in Krapina-Zagorje County.

"Currently, there are around 100 locations either under renovation or in the procurement process, of which four are family homes. Regarding the construction of replacement family homes, we have two remaining, and once we begin building them, we will complete the replacement housing programme," he said.

He added that about 15 other locations are at various stages of restoration planning.

"As far as this county is concerned, reconstruction is approaching its end. We believe it could take another year to a year and a half to complete the entire restoration process," Bačić emphasised.

He also noted that alongside private property reconstruction, 149 projects with a total value of €186 million, financed under the Solidarity Fund, have been implemented in the county. These projects cover healthcare, education, culture, as well as municipal and transport infrastructure.

Bačić thanked Željko Kolar, the county prefect, and local government units for their cooperation and highlighted that the reconstruction process following the 2020 Zagreb and Petrinja earthquakes is expected to continue until 2030.

"Our priority was to first complete the replacement family homes, as people had to move out and live elsewhere. In the City of Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje County, such projects are practically finished," he added.

He recalled that the sixth anniversary of the Zagreb earthquake will be on 22 March, expressing hope that by the seventh anniversary all replacement family homes and complex structural restorations will be completed, with the majority of reconstruction finished.

Bačić also addressed the challenge of finding contractors, noting that the situation is better today than two years ago.

According to earlier data, a total of €4.63 billion has been spent on post-earthquake reconstruction in the areas of Zagreb and Petrinja, with €2.75 billion allocated to Zagreb and €1.88 billion to Petrinja. The 2026 state budget allocates €1.02 billion for post-earthquake reconstruction.

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