The head of the task force dealing with the aftermath of last year's earthquake, Tomo Medved, in Glina on Saturday formally handed over 39 housing and several service containers to Mayor Stjepan Kostanjevic for use by local residents left homeless after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Croatia on 29 December.

It is the 15th housing container settlement set up in Sisak-Moslavina County after the earthquake, and it cost HRK 3.7 million.

Medved expressed hope that the quality of living in these containers would be much better than in makeshift accommodation. He announced the construction of an even larger such settlement in Sisak and four smaller ones, two in Mošćenica and two in Sisak. The construction of a prefab housing estate in Majur is nearing completion.

Speaking of the reconstruction process, Medved announced that repair works on houses with damaged chimneys would intensify as of early May. He said that 25,000 houses in the county had suffered minor damage, such as damage to chimneys and gable walls.

Medved said that it was important that people had safe accommodation and support in food, electricity and other essential services while waiting for their homes to be repaired, which he said would take time.

Thirty-one families, or 72 people, will be living in the housing container settlement in Glina and the first two families have moved in today, Mayor Kostanjevic said. He added that 55 residents of Glina were currently staying in Topusko and some of them would return to Glina to live in the containers.