TIRANA – A strong earthquake has shaken Croatia and its capital, causing widespread damage and panic amid a partial lockdown of the capital because of the spread of the coronavirus.
The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the earthquake measured 5.3 and struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (05:23 GMT) Sunday, according to Euronews. At least two other tremors were recorded later.
The epicenter was 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Zagreb at the depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Power was briefly cut as people ran out of their homes and alarms sounded. Several fires were also reported.
Witnesses say several buildings have cracked walls and rooftops have been damaged. Downtown streets were littered with debris. Zagreb’s iconic cathedral was also damaged, as the top of one of its two spires has collapsed. The cathedral was rebuilt after it toppled in the 1880 earthquake, AP reported.
Officials first said a 15-year-old was killed, but doctors later said that she is in critical condition and that they are fighting for her life. They gave no immediate details on the extent of other injuries.
People were told to avoid public areas, such as parks and public squares, but had no choice as they ran out of their apartments. “Keep your distances. Do not gather. We are facing two serious crises, the earthquake and the epidemic,” said Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, AFP reported.
“There are rules for when there is an earthquake, but when there is an earthquake at the same time when there is a global pandemic, then it’s a much more complex situation.” Bozinovic told the state HINA news agency. The Croatian government appealed its citizens to “stay calm” and “keep their distances”.
“This is the last thing we needed besides the coronavirus, that’s what I thought. This morning, it was shaking very hard,” told Neven Horvat, 50, standing in a park in front of his building, to AFP reporter.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Sunday that seismological and construction experts would make quick assessments of how much buildings in the centre of Zagreb were safe following three quakes that hit the capital city on Sunday morning, reported HINA.
The situation is additionally complicated due to the outbreak of the coronavirus infection, the minister admitted in an extraordinary news conference. /argumentum.al
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