When a magnitude 6.4 earthquake quake hit Croatia at midday of Dec. 29, Belgrade reporter Dusan Stojanovic filed the first alert via London within seconds of feeling the quake. He was some 25 minutes ahead of AP’s major competitors, and text leads followed throughout the day.
Meanwhile, regional news director Amer Cohadzic quickly sourced live video via Al Jazeera Balkans. With all internet, phones and electricity disabled in the towns of Petrinja and Sisak, this live feed on AP Direct was unmatched by other outlets. Hours later AP’s own live unit arrived on scene providing restriction-free coverage. Video edits included rescue teams arriving at the scene and user-generated footage of government buildings as the temblor struck.
Coverage continued overnight and into the next day with reporter Jovana Gec, photographer Darko Bandic and video journalist Eldar Emric contributing fresh photos, video and text updates. AP captured people being pulled from the rubble, aid being handed out to people suddenly homeless and a visit by Croatia’s president and prime minister.
Soldiers, left, inspect the remains of a building damaged in the earthquake, in Petrinja, Croatia, Dec. 29, 2020. At right, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, center, gestures beside an elderly woman who was evacuated after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Dec. 29, 2020.
AP Photos