Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Croatia, one death reported
Published:Tuesday | December 29, 2020 | 9:42 AM
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A strong earthquake hit central Croatia on Tuesday, causing major damage to homes and other buildings in a town southeast of the capital.
Authorities said a girl was killed and at least 20 people were injured in the quake.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit 28 miles southeast of Zagreb. Initial reports said 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.
Officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja, a town of some 25,000 people southeast of the capital 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.”
“My town has been completely destroyed. We have dead children,” Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbovic said in a statement broadcast by HRT TV.
“This is like Hiroshima - half of the city no longer exists.”
“The city has been demolished, the city is no longer livable,” he said. “We need help.”
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and other government ministers arrived in Petrinja after the earthquake.
“They are searching through the rubble to see if there is anyone else there,″ Plenkovic said.
“The biggest part of central Petrinja is in a red zone, which means that most of the buildings are not usable.”
He said the army has 500 places ready in barracks to house people, while others will be accommodated in nearby hotels and other available places.
“No one must stay out in the cold tonight,” the prime minister said.
Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.