Rijeka's Krimeja Neighborhood Under Rat Onslaught
Residents of Kumičićeva Street have been raising the alarm for over a year, and the City of Rijeka announces intensified measures and appeals for responsible waste disposal.
Residents of Kumičićeva Street have been raising the alarm for over a year, and the City of Rijeka announces intensified measures and appeals for responsible waste disposal.
Residents of Rijeka's Krimeja neighborhood have once again raised the alarm in recent weeks over the growing number of rats in Kumičićeva Street. The problem, which they claim has persisted for over a year, has escalated to the point where rodents have been spotted in the immediate vicinity of buildings, and some residents reportedly suffered property damage to their cars.
After citizens provided the Fiumana editorial team with video evidence of the scale of the infestation, we asked the City of Rijeka about the steps taken. The Department for Municipal Services, City Inspections, Safety, Mobility, and Transport confirmed they are aware of the issue and are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground.
According to the City's official response, the company Dezinsekcija d.o.o. carried out a total of five deratization treatments in Kumičićeva Street between March and July this year. The work was performed on March 11, March 26, June 24, July 8, and July 13, 2026, all based on reports received from residents.
Dezinsekcija carries out deratization work under a contract with the City, and all activities are aligned with the Implementation Plan for Preventive Disinfection, Disinsection, and Deratization for 2026. The plan was drafted by the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
"The City of Rijeka is aware of the issue of increased rodent presence in Kumičićeva Street and is continuously monitoring the situation on the ground and taking necessary measures in cooperation with the competent services. During the past period, deratization was carried out based on reports received on March 11, March 26, June 24, July 8, and July 13, 2026, including before the last reported case from residents of Kumičićeva 11."
The City of Rijeka is not stopping at the measures taken so far. To address the problem at its root, a new cycle of activities is planned. First, a new deratization will be carried out, followed by trimming of greenery, and then another deratization. The goal of this double treatment is to eliminate not only the rodents but also the conditions that favor their presence.
As one of the key factors attracting rats, the City highlights improper waste disposal. They emphasize that the area in question has already been cleaned and will be regularly maintained to remove the food source for pests.
"Various factors can influence the increased presence of rodents, including improper waste disposal near waste containers, which provides a food source for them. The area in question has been cleaned and will continue to be regularly maintained to eliminate conditions that favor their presence. It is planned to carry out deratization, followed by trimming of greenery, and then another deratization. These measures will be carried out and, if necessary, repeated to further reduce the presence of rodents and ensure the effectiveness of the measures taken."
Finally, the City thanked residents for their reports, emphasizing that they enable faster and more effective action by the competent services. "We thank the citizen for their understanding and the report provided, which helps us take further actions in a timely manner and resolve this issue more effectively," they said from the competent department.
