Dejan Lovren offers shelter to 16 families at his hotel in Croatia after earthquake

Dejan Lovren has reached out to victims of the earthquake in Croatia by offering 16 families shelter following the tremor which has hit his homeland.

The earthquake on Tuesday had a reported magnitude of 6.3 and struck 28 miles southeast of the nation’s capital Zagreb in Petrinja, a town of some 25,000 people, leaving one child dead and at least 20 injured.

Upon hearing the news, Lovren took to Instagram and posted up a message in Croatian offering rooms at his hotel to those most disadvantaged including families with children.

Dejan Lovren has reached out to victims of an earthquake in his homeland of Croatia

The defender took to Instagram to post a message offering rooms at his hotel in Novalji

He posted: ‘Dear citizens of Petrinja, I am making my hotel in Novalja available to the 16 most endangered families.

‘If you need temporary accommodation, contact my team at info@joelhotel.com or Whatsapp 0996769971 with your details. Advantage of families with children.’

Lovren’s hotel on the Island of Pag and is named after the Zenit defender’s children Josip and Elena.

The current Zenit and former Liverpool defender has called on families with children to be given main priority in claiming temporary accommodation at his hotel

Lovren is offering 16 families temporary accommodation at his Joel Hotel in Croatia

Lovren hopes to reach out to those families in desperate need of shelter following the quake

Lovren stands in front of his hotel pool which he took under his business wing in 2018

‘There are not many hotels on the island but this is something different – unique’, he said of the hotel back in 2018.

‘It’s a beauty, I would say. It is peaceful, somewhere you can enjoy the restaurant and the swimming pool and the views at sundown are amazing.’

Early reports claimed the earthquake caused wide damage, collapsing roofs, building facades and even some entire buildings.

The same area was struck by a 5.2 quake on Monday and several smaller aftershocks were felt Tuesday.

Lovren’s hotel also includes a swimming pool, from which there are spectacular views

Situated in the Croatian island of Pag, the luxurious hotel is stylishly designed

The hotel is named after the Zenit defender’s children Josip and Elena

Lovren has offered contact details linked to the hotel if families wish to take up his offer

Officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja that was hit hardest by the earthquake. At least 20 people were hospitalised with injuries, two with serious ones, they said.

‘The centre of Petrinja as it used to be no longer exists,’ Croatria’s state HRT television said in its report. ‘One girl died and there are injuries and people inside collapsed buildings.’ 

The quake was also felt in Zagreb, where people rushed onto the streets, some of which were strewn with broken roof tiles and other debris.

Patients and medical staff were evacuated from Zagreb’s Sveti Duh Hospital, many left sitting in chairs in the street wrapped in blankets.

Croatia’s state news agency Hina said in total the quake was felt in 12 countries.

People walk through the rubble from buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia

A view of remains of a car covered by debris and buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and 20 injuries in a town southeast of the capital Zagreb

Destroyed houses and a car are seen on a street after 6.4 strong earthquake on Tuesday