2020 Earthquakes in Croatia

During 2020, Croatia was hit by two major earthquakes and a series of minor earthquakes that caused human casualties and significant material damage, and revealed the state and functioning of the immediate post-disaster response and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction at the local and state level. Earthquakes are not uncommon in Croatia; they are very frequent, as the country lies in an earthquake-exposed area. Therefore, the assumption is that the country should be ready to face the risks of earthquakes and their consequences. However, the 2020 earthquakes revealed certain issues, such as a lack of procedures, slow responses to citizens’ needs, difficulties in on-site coordination, and conflicts between institutions regarding jurisdiction during the immediate post-disaster response phase. Although some forms of non-structural recovery began relatively quickly, more comprehensive post-disaster reconstruction processes were significantly delayed, with many still ongoing as of 2025. This poses a serious challenge that needs to be explored and the lessons that need to be identified and learned should be highlighted. Therefore, this research is very relevant for Croatia itself, as well as for other countries that have the opportunity to learn from the Croatian case study as well.