Croatia’s HGSS training Chinese rescuers in advanced flood rescue techniques

(Photo: HGSS)

ZAGREB, 24 March (Hina) – The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) is currently conducting training in Croatia for Chinese rescuers to perform water and flood rescue operations according to the Rescue3 licence, as part of cooperation with Chinese partners that has been ongoing since 2018.

HGSS emphasises that this is part of international cooperation in the field of swiftwater and flood rescue, and its continuation has already been agreed, including future training of Beijing firefighters in China.

Cooperation between the two sides was further strengthened following HGSS’s engagement in December 2025, when it led an international team in China responsible for the safety of 140 competitors in one of the most demanding wild-water kayak and canoe races, held on the Nu Jiang River, also known as the Salween.

(Photo: HGSS)

The Chinese rescuers are now undergoing the first part of instructor-level training and their team leader, Jin Shaohui, said they are impressed by the level of knowledge and experience of their Croatian counterparts.

HGSS emphasises that its work is internationally recognised through NATO and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Since 2018, it has participated in NATO activities in the field of major accidents and disasters, while since 2015 it has been developing a Croatian rescue module using vessels, designated HR FRB 01.

This module has undergone major international exercises in Poland, Romania and Hungary, and is due for final testing in June in Moldova.

(Photo: HGSS)

The service notes that this capability was not developed administratively, but through a series of major field operations, from Metković in 2010 and the catastrophic floods in Gunja in 2014, to operations in the Sisak-Moslavina County, the Karlovac area and Odžak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where nearly 600 people were rescued, as well as later deployments in Karlovac, Kokorići, Gračac, Hrvatska Kostajnica and Jablanica.

(Photo: HGSS)

“We have nearly 700 trained rescuers ready for complex water and flood rescues, which is by far the largest number in this part of Europe. Over the years, we have also trained around 1,200 members of emergency services from across the region. Our priority is to work, develop our capabilities and be ready when it matters most, and in June we face a serious and significant test under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism,” said Rene Tonkli, head of the HGSS Water and Flood Rescue Commission.