CAF engagement in activities on military warehouse explosion commended
President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, Deputy Prime Ministers Darko Milinovic and Slobodan Uzelac, Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric and representatives of the Armed Forces participated today, Wednesday, 14 September 2011, at a meeting of the Crisis Headquarters in Knin, which coordinates the activities after the explosion of military warehouse complex Padjane near Knin.
At the meeting, among other things, was said that citizens that were evacuated, based on the estimates of experts, were returned home, but they were warned that there were still sporadic explosions that were heard during the afternoon, and to stay on alert. According to available information, it seems that the explosion occurred due to a higher force – a fire that could not be controlled and rapidly expanded to the military warehouse. Great dedication and superhuman efforts of 16 CAF members who were in the warehouse and that until the last moment were trying to put out the fire until explosions started was highlighted.
Croatian Armed Forces have provided for the citizens of the surrounding areas water, aggregates, logistical support and meals as needed. Deminers started with work with roads as priorities. In the afternoon CAF Canadairs and Air Tractors were again dropping water at the fire site.