Commemorative events in memory of 12 volunteer fire-fighters who died in a blaze on the Kornat five years ago were held on that Adriatic island on Thursday, with families of the victims, the locals of victims' home-towns, government officials. Sibenik-Knin representatives and others.
Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic, Sibenik-Knin County Prefect Goran Pauk and MP Ivan Karin laid a wreath to honor the victims.
Wreaths were also laid by firefighter representatives, the head of the National Search and Rescue Service (DUZS), Jadran Perinic, and representative of Sibenik-Knin County and home-towns of the killed firefighters - Sibenik, Vodice and Tisno.
Interior Minister Ostojic said they came to Kornat to express understanding and support to the parents of the killed firefighters. "This is also a message to 8,000 firefighters who are putting out fires across Croatia, because their efforts deserve to be recognised," the minister said.
Recalling that there are still doubts about the Kornat tragedy, the minister said "the parents (of the killed firemen) cannot rest until they find out the truth."
The trial about the Kornat tragedy is ongoing and the Interior Ministry and I cannot interfere. However, we can help these people (families of the victims) by giving them the right information so that possible doubts could be removed, regardless of the court ruling," Ostojic said.
The twelve firemen died while trying to put out a wildfire on the island of Kornat on 30 August 2007. Only one member of the firefighting squad survived.
The families of the killed firemen saod tjey want to learn the truth about the death of their loved ones.
