REMEMBERING THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE 57 YEARS AGO

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 27 /SRNA/ - On this day 57 years ago, Banja Luka was struck by a 6.6-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. Fifteen people lost their lives, 1,117 were injured, the city suffered enormous destruction, and several municipalities in the Krajina region suffered catastrophic consequences.

Thirteen people were killed in the "Titanik" building, which suffered severe structural damage. In Braće i Sestara Kapor Street, a girl was killed when part of a house collapsed on her while she was playing in the yard, and a man was killed in front of what was then the "Kozara "restaurant.

According to data from the Seismological Service of the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute, on October 26, 1969, at 4:36 p.m., Banja Luka and its residents were shaken by a strong 5.6-magnitude earthquake, which caused the first serious material damage.

The local Emergency Crisis Headquarters convened and made very important decisions at that moment that proved crucial for the safety of the population, suspending classes in schools and work in all preschool institutions, and banning work in factories and enterprises.

On October 27, a second, far stronger 6.6-magnitude earthquake followed and devastated the city.

All the clocks in Banja Luka show the correct time except the clock on Krajina Square, whose hands stopped at 9:10:56 a.m. on October 27, 1969.

It remains the strongest earthquake recorded in BiH to date, and its consequences were felt not only in the Banja Luka area but in another 15 Krajina municipalities.

Čelinac, Laktaši, Gradiška, Prnjavor, Kotor Varoš, Kneževo, Srbac, Ključ, Jajce, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Kozarska Dubica and Novi Grad also suffered catastrophic consequences.

Educational institutions and buildings that were not built to construction standards suffered the most, with some buildings lacking even concrete columns or slabs. Buildings from the Austro-Hungarian era, such as Banski Dvor, the Theater and the City Hall building, did not suffer serious damage.

To mark 57 years since the devastating earthquake that struck Banja Luka, the warning and alert system sirens will sound today at 9:11 a.m.

The sirens will sound a steady tone for 60 seconds, accompanied by a voice message announcing the reason for their activation.

The Seismological Service of the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute noted that earthquakes cannot be predicted, but should be expected.

"Earthquakes do not kill; people die because of non-resistant buildings that were not designed to withstand expected earthquakes. An earthquake is a natural phenomenon over which man has no influence, but man is directly responsible for its consequences," the Seismological Service said.

According to them, investing in seismic prevention is a direct investment in the safety of citizens.

"Nature demands that people behave the way it requires," Republika Srpska seismologists said.