A strong earthquake shook Sunday Croatia and its capital, causing widespread damage and panic scenes. A 15-year-old girl was in serious condition and the media reported other injuries.
The European seismological agency, EMSC, estimated the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.3 and noted that the earthquake had occurred in an area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (local time). The epicenter was located 4 miles north of Zagreb at a depth of 6 miles.
Many buildings cracked in Zagreb, with damage to walls and roofs. The downtown streets were strewn with rubble. Concrete slabs fell on cars, and some chimneys were left lying outside the building entrances.
Zagreb’s iconic cathedral was also damaged, and the top of one of its two spiers collapsed. The cathedral was rebuilt after the 1880 earthquake.
The power supply was interrupted briefly, while the alarms sounded and people ran out of their houses. Several fires were also recorded. At least two other tremors were later detected.
Authorities initially said a 15-year-old girl had died, but medical sources later said she was still in serious condition and that they were fighting to save her life. They did not give details on the severity of the other wounded.
Inside the houses, residents in the area shared images of objects dropped from shelves, glass and broken bottles. Authorities said he had been injured, without giving further details at first.
The quake occurred amid a partial quarantine in the capital to combat the spread of a new coronavirus. People were told to avoid public spaces like parks and public squares, but many had no choice but to run away from their apartments.
Government instructions allowed meetings of up to five people who kept distance from each other.
Restrictions to combat the virus complicated the situation, said Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic.
“There are rules for when there is an earthquake, but when there is an earthquake as well as a global pandemic, then it is a much more complex situation,” Bozinovic told the state agency HINA.
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