Pine Tree Collapses on Swimmers in Crikvenica, Four Injured
On Balustrada Beach, a tree fell on eight people, four of whom were taken to hospital, and the company EKO-MURVICA has announced additional tree inspections at frequented public areas.
On Balustrada Beach, a tree fell on eight people, four of whom were taken to hospital, and the company EKO-MURVICA has announced additional tree inspections at frequented public areas.
Saturday morning at Balustrada Beach in Crikvenica turned into a drama when a pine tree, located along Strossmayer Promenade near Hotel Zagreb, collapsed directly onto swimmers. The incident occurred at 11:10 AM, and according to initial reports, eight people were under the tree. The Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department confirmed that police officers and other emergency services, including firefighters, were dispatched to the scene immediately after the report.
According to the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department, the tree snapped at the root. All those who were beneath it managed to get out before emergency services arrived, sustaining only superficial injuries. Among them were three children. As reported by the media, the fallen pine was 13.5 meters tall, and it is fortunate that no one was seriously injured and no property damage occurred – no cars or anything else were damaged.
However, sources differ on the number and severity of injuries. While Kanal Ri reports that all eight swimmers came away with scratches, the company EKO-MURVICA d.o.o., which manages the beach, stated in its announcement that two adults and two children were injured. They were transported to the Rijeka Clinical Hospital Center but are out of life-threatening danger. Several other individuals with minor injuries were treated on site.
The portal Tunera.info reported that four Croatian and four Czech nationals were under the tree. According to Crikva.hr, there were a total of eight adults and four children among them. EKO-MURVICA expressed sincere regret over the incident in its statement, saying: "We wish the injured a speedy and full recovery."
EKO-MURVICA explained in its announcement that the tree was an Aleppo pine, a species that naturally develops a relatively shallow root system. As they noted, the stability of mature trees can be affected by prolonged drought, soil characteristics, and terrain. Balustrada Beach is located on reclaimed land, which may also have been a contributing factor.
They also emphasized that certain root damage and the risk of tree uprooting are not always detectable through regular visual inspections, especially when there are no visible external signs of problems. For a more detailed assessment of the internal condition of trees, specialized methods and instruments exist, such as resistographs, but even such tests cannot provide absolute certainty in all circumstances.
Following this incident, EKO-MURVICA announced that it will conduct additional inspections of trees on Balustrada Beach and other frequented public areas. The goal is to determine whether there are trees that require further expert assessments or measures to prevent similar incidents. The company stated that, in cooperation with relevant experts and services, they will determine all circumstances that led to the tree's fall.
"The safety of citizens and visitors must be a top priority, and we will promptly inform the public of all further findings and measures taken," the company stated. Official information on the exact reasons for the tree's fall is still pending.
