{
  "id": 5851128,
  "title": "Tens of thousands of Croatians protest over hazardous waste",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/tens-of-thousands-of-croatians-protest-over-hazardous-waste-5851128",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T22:02:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/09/06/tens-of-thousands-of-croatians-protest-over-hazardous-waste"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zagreb, Croatia witnessed a massive protest on Saturday as tens of thousands of people marched in the city, demanding immediate action to clean up thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped hazardous waste. The waste, consisting of electronic and medical materials, was discovered in early 2025 in the Lika region, a place famed for its pristine forests, rivers, national parks, and the longest mountain range in the country. Authorities are currently investigating 10 individuals and four companies for their suspected roles in the dumping process, which involved importing waste from Slovenia, Italy, and Germany. The waste was illegally dumped alongside medical waste from Croatia in the town of Gospic, raising concerns about environmental and health risks. In August, prosecutors released a report confirming soil contamination in Gospic, warning of significant dangers to the environment and public health, though drinking water in the area remained safe, according to health authorities. The protest, titled \"Walk for Lika, Walk for Croatia,\" was organized by President Zoran Milanovic, the opposition, and numerous public figures and NGOs. Katarina Kenda, a protester with three children, expressed her desire for a clean and healthy Croatia for future generations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Protesters carried banners reading \"Ecocide equals slow genocide\" and \"Halt waste import,\" and demanded a concrete cleanup plan within 20 days, removal within three months, and accountability for those responsible. Conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had previously stated that the site would be covered by mid-October with full removal following.",
  "summary": "Some 35,000 tonnes of waste were found in early 2025 in the Lika region, known for its pristine forests, rivers and national parks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Tens of thousands of Croatians protest over hazardous waste",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/tens-of-thousands-of-croatians-protest-over-hazardous-waste",
        "published": "2026-09-05T22:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Tens of thousands of Croatians protest over hazardous waste",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/tens-of-thousands-of-croatians-protest-over-hazardous-waste-5864101",
        "published": "2026-09-05T23:32:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}