BACKO Mini Express Museum - the fifth-largest Europe model railway, one of the most visited tourist contents in Zagreb before the coronavirus pandemic, was heavily damaged in flood, which can be seen in the photographs posted on their Facebook page.

The owner, Antun Urbic Backo, spoke to Index and revealed that the cost had been estimated at 20,000 euros for now. 

“The damage is huge. We’ve been pumping the water since 9 am. There were around 15 cubic meters of water, which reached approximately 20 centimeters in height, given the size of the space. We estimate the damage at 20,000 euros, a part of the models has been ruined, expensive electronics. The boxes have gone down the drain, some wooden parts. Some things will be able to dry. We haven’t managed to check all the tools, we’ll see the damages later,” said Backo.

The museum is currently closed, and the owner says that in all likelihood, it will stay that way, and, as of autumn, the museum will open only by appointment. 

“We have to do it like that because of coronavirus and the financial situation. There are no tourists, no school groups, and that’s a large part of our visitors,” he said.