Zagreb 1964 flood: The city's greatest modern natural disaster

In October 1964, Zagreb experienced its most significant natural disaster of the 20th century when the Sava River breached its embankments following days of heavy rainfall. The flooding began as water levels rose near the Jankomir bridge and eventually caused embankments to fail near Veslačka Street, between the road and rail bridges.

The inundation spread rapidly toward the Trešnjevka district and southern parts of the city. In some areas, water levels rose by two meters in just three hours, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops. The disaster resulted in 17 deaths and left approximately 40,000 people homeless.

Infrastructure damage was extensive, with 10,000 apartments destroyed, 120 business premises rendered non-functional, and 3,000 economic buildings affected. The flood also damaged 61 transformer stations and destroyed significant quantities of construction materials. In the aftermath, international aid was provided to the city, and new flood defense systems were eventually developed and modernized to prevent a recurrence.