EU commissioner for crisis management arrives in Croatia

After the devastating earthquake that struck the central part of the country, Croatia requested the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and so far the countries that have responded to the call for urgent aid include Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey, the Commission said.

On Wednesday, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic and EC Vice-President Dubravka Suica arrived in Croatia and met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Together with Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, they will visit Petrinja, which was hit hardest by the earthquake.

"I arrived to Croatia to assure the Croatian people that the EU stands in full solidarity with them. Our ERCC (Emergency Response Coordination Centre) will continue to mobilise most urgent assistance," Lenarcic said, thanking countries that have immediately rushed to Croatia's help.

While we mourn the dead and plan for reconstruction, we also must learn lessons to avoid such tragedies where possible. Although nature cannot be controlled, we can study how and where people live. I am currently working on proposals for rural areas, but I am also preparing initiatives for urban areas, Suica said.