SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES IN QUAKE IN SOUTH CROA

CROA $ TIA DUBROVNIK, Sept 20 (Hina) - The Dubrovnik County Crisis Centre in Slano informed the Croatian government that the earthquake of September 5 whose epicentre was between Ston and Slano (370 kilometres south-east of Zagreb) had completely destroyed 4 settlements, 15 settlements had been highly damaged and 10 lightly. One thousand five hundred and eighty eight people used to live in the completely destroyed and heavily damaged settlements. It has been estimated with some certainty that 235 houses are unfit to live in, however, not all damaged houses have been inspected. The Centre estimated that there were some 80 more houses unfit for living in. Great damage was also done to non-residential buildings, agricultural estates and the infrastructure. The Crisis Centre asked the government for urgent help in converted containers for accommodation, buffer building materials and food. The Centre also asked that all families whose houses were not fit to live in be registered as displaced persons and that the reconstruction of houses be carried out on the principle of war- damaged houses. (hina) lm jn 202014 MET sep 96