If an earthquake starts shaking a building in Croatia, immediately get low, protect your head and neck and shelter under a sturdy table or in another appropriate safe position near a known load-bearing structural element. Stay away from windows, mirrors, chandeliers, heavy unsecured furniture and partitions. Do not run for the stairs or elevator during the shaking. If you are outdoors, move away from façades, roof tiles, trees and power lines when you can do so safely.
When movement stops, check yourself and others for injuries, assess exits and follow the Croatian Civil Protection Directorate’s instructions. For urgent fire, rescue, police or medical help call 112. The government’s Potresinfo emergency directory also lists 192 police, 193 firefighters, 194 ambulance and 1987 roadside assistance. For immediate danger, 112 is the single general emergency number. Give the county, town, address, floor, landmark and nature of the damage. A scientific earthquake report cannot certify whether a particular home can be entered.
Quick answer: An earthquake in Croatia may begin without warning, cause ground movement and falling objects, then leave broken glass, unstable masonry, injured residents and damaged roads or utilities. Aftershocks may follow, sometimes strong enough to damage weakened buildings further. Historic quarters and older masonry need special caution. Certain offshore sources can also create coastal hazards, but not every earthquake in Croatia generates a tsunami. The survival sequence is protect during shaking → check safety and injuries → leave damaged premises by a safe route → avoid aftershocks and hazards → wait for clearance before returning.
First 12 actions — earthquake survival checklist
- During shaking, get low and protect your head and neck. Take cover beneath nearby sturdy furniture when possible.
- Stay away from glass, high furniture, mirrors and hanging lights. These can fall during strong movement.
- Do not rush outside, descend stairs or use an elevator while the ground moves.
- If outdoors, stay away from unstable façades, balconies, chimneys, trees and electrical lines.
- If driving, pull over safely away from bridges and overhead hazards and remain in the car until movement stops when appropriate.
- After the main shaking, check injuries and the condition of exits, then move carefully according to local guidance.
- Call 112 for urgent rescue or serious medical danger, giving the precise address, floor and access restrictions.
- Do not re-enter damaged buildings until qualified inspection or competent authorities permit it.
- Expect aftershocks. Protect yourself again if shaking resumes.
- If you smell gas, avoid flames and electrical switches and seek professional assistance from a safe place.
- In coastal areas, follow any actual tsunami warning and local evacuation signs, without treating every inland earthquake as a tsunami alert.
- Use official scientific and Civil Protection information, not posts predicting an exact time for another earthquake.
Stage 1 — Croatia’s seismic setting: why location matters
Croatia sits in a tectonically active part of southeastern Europe. The Dinaric Alps, coastal faults and several inland fault systems influence earthquake activity. Shaking can affect Zagreb, central Croatia, Dalmatia and other areas differently depending on where an event begins.
A magnitude number describes an earthquake, but not the precise shaking intensity at every building. Depth, distance, local soils and structural construction all affect how the event is experienced.
The Croatian government earthquake guide states that earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted in advance and may arrive suddenly. The useful decision is preparation, not guessing a date.
A family should know which objects can fall, how to protect people during movement and how to access a suitable safe assembly location after shaking. A town’s long earthquake history cannot replace the condition of one particular house.
Stage 2 — Croatia’s Civil Protection Directorate: what it tells residents
The Civil Protection Directorate earthquake page explains protective behaviour before, during and after an earthquake.
Its advice includes taking cover beneath a table, near a known load-bearing element or under an appropriate structural beam, protecting the head with hands, and avoiding glass, windows and heavy objects that could fall.
Once the first shaking ends, residents should assess injuries, damaged installations and exits, then leave carefully if required. Do not use the elevator.
This is distinct from a scientific report. The Civil Protection Directorate explains what people should do, while seismic scientists explain what was measured. Building inspectors determine whether damaged premises are fit to occupy.
Stage 3 — What to do before an earthquake: protect the room
Croatia’s government earthquake guidance recommends professional analysis of a building’s seismic resistance where necessary and reinforcement where qualified experts advise it.
Inside a home, secure tall cupboards and bookshelves, anchor mirrors and hanging items appropriately, and avoid storing heavy objects above beds or couches. The first serious injury may come from a falling wardrobe rather than collapse of the entire building.
Prepare a flashlight, spare batteries, a radio, suitable shoes, medicines, water, food, first-aid supplies and a written list of contacts. Know where and how the electricity, gas and water supplies can be managed when it is safe to do so.
Discuss a family meeting point outside unstable façades and a way to contact relatives if mobile service is congested. A household with a wheelchair user or someone requiring regular medical treatment needs an adapted plan.
Stage 4 — The first jolt: protecting the body matters more than fleeing
An earthquake may start as a sudden jolt, a rolling sensation or strong lateral movement. Objects can fall quickly and a person may have difficulty keeping balance.
Get low. If a sturdy table is within easy reach, go beneath it and hold a leg while protecting the head and neck. If no suitable furniture is close, find the safer immediately accessible protected position and shield the head.
Do not run across a moving room to collect a phone, retrieve a bag or reach the stairwell. Exterior façades, roof tiles and glass may be falling around exits.
A person who is in bed may be safer protecting the head with a pillow rather than crossing a floor as glass breaks. A wheelchair user may need to lock the chair and protect the head and neck in place.
Stage 5 — Load-bearing walls versus ordinary doorways
Croatian official instructions refer to load-bearing walls, structural beams and substantial furniture as potential protection. However, that does not mean any decorative doorframe or lightweight partition is safe.
Residents should learn structural features of their buildings before any emergency. A non-load-bearing interior wall or old cracked archway may not behave like a designed structural element.
During shaking, do not make a long journey across the room to test whether one wall is load bearing. The priority is nearby practical cover and avoiding objects that could fall.
Older masonry houses and reinforced-concrete apartments may have very different structural behaviour. A qualified engineer, not an internet photograph, can determine the role and condition of a wall.
Stage 6 — Apartments and high-rise buildings
On higher floors, swaying may feel pronounced. Residents may instinctively head for stairs, but the government guidance tells people to stay inside during shaking and not use stairs or elevators at that moment.
Protect against glass and falling objects. Wait until movement stops before assessing any evacuation route. A damaged staircase, ceiling or façade may make a familiar exit unsafe.
If an elevator appears to function after strong shaking, do not assume its shafts, guides and power systems are safe. Follow building-management and responder instructions.
After leaving safely, assemble away from buildings, chimneys, cables and other falling-object hazards. Do not crowd immediately beneath the entrance.
Stage 7 — Zagreb and central Croatia: a city-specific risk profile
Zagreb contains dense neighbourhoods, taller residential blocks and buildings from different construction periods. Some historic districts include masonry buildings with façade and chimney hazards.
An earthquake may cause falling plaster, broken windows and damaged roof tiles even where buildings do not collapse. A street that appears open can remain unsafe because of unstable elements above.
Residents should follow actual municipal Civil Protection directions and inspections. A building tagged as unsafe must remain off limits until authorised return.
The 22 March 2020 Zagreb earthquake is a historical reminder of the need for secure furniture, appropriate construction and careful urban access. It is not a prediction of another earthquake on the same date or of the same size.
Stage 8 — Petrinja and Sisak: history without false forecasts
The damaging 29 December 2020 Petrinja earthquake affected central Croatia and generated serious consequences for buildings, communities and access. Government recovery programmes and the Potresinfo portal document some of the response arrangements.
Historical experience shows that buildings may need extensive assessment, temporary accommodation and long-term reconstruction. Families can be displaced for much longer than the original shaking lasts.
However, one historic event does not indicate the exact future epicentre or magnitude. Predictions that a similar earthquake must occur at a fixed date are not scientifically grounded.
The practical lessons concern building safety, communication, access routes and care for people who need help evacuating.
Stage 9 — Outdoors, parks and historic streets
If already outside, move toward a safer open area away from façades, chimneys, tall walls, power lines and trees when possible.
Do not enter a building merely to escape the visible motion. Falling masonry can affect the area around entrances. Narrow streets lined with older structures may have danger on both sides.
If a historic church, monument or old-town building has been closed, obey the restriction even if no damage is immediately visible from a distance.
A photograph is not worth standing beneath a cracked stone cornice or entering an uninspected building during aftershocks.
Stage 10 — In a vehicle: pull over without causing another accident
Drivers should slow carefully and stop in a suitable safe place, away from bridges, overpasses, unstable walls, trees and overhead lines where feasible.
The Croatian government guidance says to stop in an open area and remain in the vehicle during shaking when appropriate.
Do not brake abruptly in a live high-speed lane if doing so creates collision risk. After movement ends, watch for cracked road surfaces, fallen masonry, damaged bridges and rockfall.
Police and road authorities may restrict some routes for structural checks. Do not drive around a closure merely because a navigation app shows the road as open.
Stage 11 — The first minutes afterward: injuries, shoes and exits
After the main shaking, assess injuries and look for broken glass or debris underfoot. Wear shoes where possible before walking.
Check whether doors, corridors and stairs remain safe. If a structure appears seriously damaged, leave by a suitable route when possible and avoid re-entry.
The Civil Protection Directorate advises checking for damaged gas, water, sewer and electrical installations after an event.
Do not risk entering a damaged utility room for a routine switch or valve. A trained responder or technician may be needed.
Stage 12 — Aftershocks can further damage weakened buildings
Aftershocks may occur after the first earthquake and can be large enough to damage structures already weakened by the main event.
If new shaking begins, protect your head and neck again. Keep away from cracked walls, unstable stairs and damaged balconies.
An hour without aftershocks is not a structural safety certificate. Engineers may need to assess foundations, walls, columns, supports and roofing before normal occupation.
Do not re-enter a closed building to retrieve valuables while assessments or restrictions remain in effect.
Stage 13 — Croatia’s 112 system and specialist emergency numbers
The official Potresinfo emergency contact directory lists:
- 112 — unified emergency number used throughout Croatia.
- 192 — police.
- 193 — firefighters.
- 194 — emergency medical services.
- 1987 — roadside assistance.
For life-threatening danger, 112 provides a general emergency route and can direct the relevant services. Give the county (*županija*), municipality, address, floor, landmark, number of people and urgent hazards.
An operator may need to know whether someone is trapped, is breathing normally or cannot move because of disability or injury. Keep the call concise and follow instructions.
Do not occupy emergency lines merely to find out whether a new earthquake has been recorded; scientific and public information services serve that purpose.
Stage 14 — Calling for a trapped person
If someone is buried or trapped in damaged masonry, tell emergency services their last-known position and whether the building is unstable.
An untrained rescuer may cause additional collapse by moving beams or stones that support damaged material. Do not enter a dangerous structure without appropriate guidance.
If a person is already safely reachable, provide first aid within your competence and follow 112 instructions. Serious bleeding, loss of consciousness or abnormal breathing require urgent medical support.
Protect injured people from additional falling material and cold, and do not give oral fluids to someone who cannot swallow safely.
Stage 15 — Gas leaks, electricity and water
Earthquakes can break gas connections, power cables, water pipes and sewer systems. These hazards may be invisible.
If gas is suspected, do not operate electrical switches, use matches or create flames. Leave safely and report the problem.
Treat fallen electric lines as potentially live even during a blackout. Keep away from wet panels and damaged appliances.
If drinking-water systems may have been affected, follow the local supplier’s health directions. Boiling reduces many microorganisms but does not remove fuel or all dissolved chemical contamination.
Stage 16 — Coastal Croatia: tsunami is not the default outcome
Croatia’s Adriatic coastline has distinct coastal hazards. Some underwater earthquake sources or submarine movements can create unusual sea-level disturbances, but most earthquakes do not generate a damaging tsunami.
If you are in an exposed coastal location and receive an official tsunami warning, follow the mapped evacuation route away from beaches, ports and low coastal ground. Unusual strong and prolonged local shaking can be an important natural warning where locally relevant.
Do not go to a harbour to photograph an unexpected sea withdrawal. The first surge may not be the largest, and strong currents can continue.
Do not announce a nationwide Croatian tsunami evacuation merely because a moderate inland earthquake occurred. Use actual maritime, scientific and Civil Protection instructions for the specific coast.
Stage 17 — Rockfall, steep slopes and Dinaric roads
Earthquakes can loosen rock along mountain roads, gorges and coastal cliffs. A road cutting may shed stones during or after the first shaking.
Avoid standing below fresh rockfall or walking onto a new debris pile. Secondary slides or falls may occur during aftershocks or heavy rain.
A driver should obey official closures even if the road is partly passable. Heavy vehicles or another aftershock could worsen a damaged retaining structure.
Communities cut off from hospitals or supplies should report urgent needs through 112 rather than attempt an unsafe shortcut.
Stage 18 — Schools and childcare
A school should practise protection during shaking and orderly movement afterward. Children need a clear safe position and an adult responsible for directing them.
Parents should not enter a damaged school building to recover bags or race through closed streets to collect pupils who are already supervised at a safer site.
Teachers should account for students and use the approved reunification plan. A school building may require engineering checks before reopening.
Children with mobility or sensory needs may require adapted routes and dedicated assistance.
Stage 19 — Nursing homes, hospitals and residents needing help
Older adults, people using wheelchairs and residents requiring oxygen or other treatment may be unable to descend damaged stairs.
Healthcare and care facilities should have an accessible protection and evacuation plan before an event. In a serious emergency, notify responders of the floor, required equipment, mobility limits and medical needs.
Do not improvise a dangerous carry down a damaged staircase when trained rescue may be needed. Request appropriate assistance.
After relocation, medication continuity, safe accommodation and accessible sanitation may be more urgent than property recovery.
Stage 20 — Visitors in Dubrovnik, Split and coastal towns
Tourists may stay in historic masonry buildings or hotels with narrow staircases and unfamiliar exits.
Before travel, keep the full accommodation address, municipality and nearest landmark available. Learn 112 and ask staff about the building’s assembly area.
During shaking, protect yourself rather than rush outside beneath historic façades. After movement ends, follow staff and Civil Protection instructions.
At the coast, coastal evacuation directions are separate from ordinary building evacuation. A large public square beside a harbour may not be suitable if a real tsunami warning affects it.
Stage 21 — Scientific earthquake information
The University of Zagreb’s Seismological Service and other scientific institutions study and report recorded events. The Croatian government earthquake information explains that precise earthquake prediction is unavailable.
Scientific measurements can identify the time, magnitude, depth and probable epicentre of an event. They do not determine how much damage one old masonry building has suffered.
Early estimates may change as additional seismic data are analysed. Avoid reposting old maps as live news.
Use scientific reporting for the event and qualified engineers or authorities for the condition of roads, buildings and utilities.
Stage 22 — Public messages and reliable information
The Civil Protection Directorate and emergency services may send warnings or public instructions through official channels, local government, radio and mobile systems.
Read the exact location and date on a message. A warning for one county does not automatically apply to every town on the coast.
A phone not receiving a warning does not prove that shaking is harmless. Protect yourself immediately based on what is happening.
Avoid circulating sensational claims predicting an exact new earthquake. They can lead people to unsafe travel or unnecessary panic.
Stage 23 — Emergency shelters after building damage
A family whose home is declared unsafe may need temporary accommodation, water, medicine and food.
Use the recognised local emergency arrangements; the closest school or sports hall is not automatically an authorised overnight shelter.
Tell staff about disability access, pregnancy, infant feeding or necessary medication. Keep children with designated caregivers.
Do not use charcoal grills or petrol generators in enclosed sleeping areas because carbon monoxide can cause fatal poisoning.
Stage 24 — Recovery and reconstruction can take a long time
A severe earthquake can disrupt schooling, businesses, public transport and health services far beyond the initial rescue period.
Building repair may involve structural assessment, design changes and skilled work. Cosmetic repairs to plaster do not guarantee damaged load-bearing elements are safe.
A resident may need legitimate insurance or assistance programmes. Verify official contact details and do not give a stranger banking PINs in exchange for promised compensation.
Community reconstruction should improve safety and accessible evacuation routes, not merely restore the appearance of damaged buildings.
Stage 25 — First 24 hours: a practical household sequence
During shaking: Protect head and neck beneath nearby sturdy cover or an appropriate structural position. Avoid elevators and stairs.
When shaking ends: Assess injuries, exits and utility hazards. Call 112 for immediate serious danger.
If the building is damaged: Leave by a safe route where possible and remain clear of falling façades and barriers.
During aftershocks: Protect again, keep roads clear and monitor official information.
During the first night: Obtain suitable shelter, water, medicine, clothing and communication. Do not re-enter unsafe premises merely for convenience.
After permission to return: Confirm road, structure, gas, electricity and water safety before resuming normal use.
Three illustrative Croatian earthquake situations
Scenario A — An apartment in Zagreb: Strong movement begins. The household takes cover rather than running onto the staircase. After shaking ends, it checks for damage, follows the building’s exit directions and remains away from an unstable façade.
Scenario B — A visitor in a Dalmatian old town: A traveller takes shelter during shaking. Afterward the municipality closes a narrow street because masonry is unstable. The visitor obeys the barrier rather than entering to photograph the buildings.
Scenario C — A hillside road near a village: Fresh stones cover one lane after an earthquake. A driver does not drive past the closure, even though a map still suggests the route. They report the obstruction and use official road information.
These examples are fictional planning scenarios, not current earthquake reports about named Croatian places.
Nine misunderstandings to avoid
- “Croatian earthquakes can be predicted for an exact day.” They cannot be reliably timed in advance.
- “The safest action is always to sprint outside.” Falling façades and stairs can be dangerous during shaking.
- “Every doorway is a certified safe structural element.” The official guidance refers to known load-bearing elements and substantial cover.
- “A minor reported magnitude guarantees my old building is safe.” Local intensity and construction matter.
- “Once the first shake is over, no further damage can occur.” Aftershocks may cause additional damage.
- “A working lift proves it is safe after a major earthquake.” Equipment may require inspection.
- “Every earthquake on the Adriatic creates a tsunami.” That is false; follow actual warnings.
- “A masonry building still standing is fit to re-enter.” Structural inspection may be required.
- “A clear road is safe even when authorities have closed it.” Hidden damage and rockfall can remain.
Croatia earthquake preparation checklist
- Read Croatian government earthquake guidance and Civil Protection instructions.
- Save 112 emergency, plus specialist 192 police, 193 fire and 194 medical.
- Secure heavy furniture and hanging objects and learn appropriate safe positions at home or work.
- Prepare water, food, footwear, light, batteries, medicine, phone power and important documents.
- Identify a safe meeting point away from façades and wires, and an adapted plan for vulnerable family members.
- Protect yourself during shaking and assess exits only after movement ends.
- Stay clear of damaged buildings, mountain roads, rockfall and fallen electric lines.
- In a coastal area, learn where actual tsunami warnings and evacuation routes apply.
- Return only after competent structural and utility clearance.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first during an earthquake in Croatia?
Get low and protect your head and neck beneath a sturdy table or at another appropriate protected position. Avoid windows, stairs and elevators while shaking continues.
What is Croatia’s emergency number?
112 is the general emergency number. 192 police, 193 firefighters and 194 emergency medical are also listed by the Croatian government.
Can an earthquake be predicted in Croatia?
No. The government says earthquakes occur suddenly without reliable exact prediction.
Are aftershocks dangerous?
They can be, particularly to buildings already weakened by the first event. Protect yourself again if shaking starts and avoid damaged structures.
What if my apartment staircase is damaged?
Do not force movement through a visibly unstable exit. Contact building management or emergency services and follow situation-specific directions.
Do Croatian earthquakes always produce tsunamis?
No. Tsunami potential depends on a particular offshore source and water displacement. Follow official coastal warnings rather than assume every inland earthquake threatens the sea.
When can I return to an earthquake-damaged home?
When authorities or qualified professionals permit access and structural and utility risks have been addressed.
Official Croatian sources and connected eduKate guides
- Government of Croatia — Earthquake Safety: prevention, during-shaking protection and aftershocks.
- Croatian Civil Protection Directorate — Earthquake Guidance: indoor, outdoor and after-event actions.
- Civil Protection Directorate — Disaster Response Principles: evacuation, help and emergency communication.
- Croatian Government Potresinfo — Emergency Contacts: 112, 192, 193, 194 and 1987.
- Potresinfo — Earthquake Recovery Information: recovery and support arrangements.
- University of Zagreb — Faculty of Science, Geophysics: seismic science and research.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Italy: separate Italian safety and emergency framework.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Greece: Mediterranean earthquake guidance under different agencies.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Romania: Vrancea and building-safety concerns elsewhere in Europe.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Türkiye: an additional comparison of earthquake and aftershock response.
Reader note — reviewed 11 November 2026: General earthquake safety education, not a current seismic alert, engineering certification or personal rescue instruction. Follow Croatian Civil Protection, 112, qualified building services and local authorities during an emergency.