EARTHQUAKES IN CROATIA


At approximately 6:24 AM CET on the morning of 22 March 2020, an earthquake of magnitude 5.3 Mw, 5.5 ML, hit Zagreb, Croatia, with an epicenter 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the city centre. The maximum felt intensity was VII (Very strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, the strongest of which with a magnitude of 5.0. It was the strongest earthquake in Zagreb since the 1880 earthquake and caused substantial damage in the historical city center. Over 1,900 buildings are reported to have become uninhabitable by the earthquake damage. The earthquake was also felt in Slovenia. A total of 27 people were injured, of whom one teenage girl died succumbing to her injuries.
The earthquake occurred during the coronavirus pandemic and caused problems in enforcement of social distancing measures set out by the Government of Croatia.
The direct earthquake damage in Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje County was estimated at 86 billion Croatian kuna (€11.5 billion).

The central part of Croatia was hit by strong earthquakes on December 28th, first a magnitude 5.0 at 6:28 CET 15 km from Sisak town, followed by a strong aftershocks of magnitude 4.7 at 7:49 and then magnitude 4.1 at 7:51.
There were no reports of injuries or fatalities, but there was moderate, in some cases substantial damage at buildings and structures in Sisak town and other places near the epicenter.

On December 29th Croatia was hit by another earthquake at 12:20 PM CET ,magnitude 6.4, approximately 3 km from Petrinja. This is the strongest quake on the territory of Croatia since 1962. The earthquake was felt throughout northern Croatia, as well as in large parts of Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Hungary and even Italy. Initial reports show many buildings destroyed in Petrinja. Six people died, and at least 20 others were injured. The town's mayor said that half of the town has been destroyed.