Monday 28 December 2020
Von der Leyen promises help
Severe earthquake shakes Croatia
A few dozen kilometers south of the Croatian capital Zagreb, strong tremors wake people up in the early morning. Fortunately there are no victims. Several buildings – including a hospital – suffer severe damage. Many residents fear for their homes.
Two severe earthquakes shook the region south of Zagreb in Croatia this morning. The epicenter was about 60 kilometers southeast of the capital, as reported by the Croatian state television HRT. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) gave the strengths 5.2 and 5.0. Property damage occurred to a number of buildings, people were not injured, the local authorities said.
As if by a miracle, no one was hurt.
(Photo: imago images / Pixsell)
The hospital in the district capital Sisak was also damaged. Some patients therefore had to be moved to other rooms, hospital director Tomislav Dujmenovic told HRT. Covid 19 patients who have to be artificially ventilated were not affected. Cracks appeared on several other facades. The fire brigade was on duty there to secure the damage and to come to the aid of the residents.
In the city of Petrinje, among other things, the town hall was damaged, as Mayor Darinko Dumbovic reported to the station N1. Some buildings have suffered considerable damage, Dumbovic said. Many people therefore did not dare to go back into their homes.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the region together with President Zoran Milanovic. According to Plenkovic, the military was also involved in the clean-up work. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter that the Commission is in contact with Plenkovic and his government and is ready to help.
The Balkans lies on a large tectonic fault line. The region is regularly shaken by earthquakes. Only in March did a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Zagreb cause major damage. A youth had died and more than two dozen people were injured. A steeple had fallen from the famous cathedral in the center of the city. Experts put the damage caused by this earthquake at 5.5 billion euros.