Powerful 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Croatia

A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit buildings in central Croatia on Tuesday near the town of Petrinja, where relief teams rushed to debris.

The tremor, which, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), hit at a depth of 10 kilometres about 1130 GMT, was also deeply felt about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of the epicentre in the capital city of Zagreb, where terrified people fled into the streets.

We’re dragging people out of vehicles, we don’t know whether we’re dead or hurt,” said Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbovic to regional broadcaster N1.

“There is general panic, people are looking for their loved ones.”

Pictures of the area, home to around 20,000 residents, showed damaged roofs and streets lined with bricks and other rubble.