Defence Minister Mario Banozic said on Thursday evening that some damage had been found on some of army properties in Petrinja where civilians were temporarily staying after the 29 December devastating earthquake.  

Banozic told N1 television that the damaged property would have to be repaired, and said that the defence ministry would cooperate with civilian authorities in efforts to seek solutions for the accommodation of 400 civilians who found temporary shelter in the army barracks.

He called for the stabilisation of the situation and for providing assistance to people in need and after that reconstruction can start.

Immediately after the quake, it was necessary to clear quake debris, make roads usable, transfer patients to a safe place, Banozic recalled. Apart from that, the army staff was also included in checking river embankments in the quake-hit region.

“The army has done a lot of work, and it is my wish that we can start reconstructing the area as soon as possible,” he said adding that army service people would still be engaged on the ground to deliver humanitarian aid, clear rubble as well as to transport container homes to settlements in the area.