Seven killed in earthquake: Croatia

Croatians in Petrinja, a town southeast of the capital Zagreb, have been left shaken following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit their community this morning, reducing parts of the town to rubble.

Firefighters arrive after an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia December 29, 2020 [Slavko Midzor/Pixsell/Reuters]

The shocks could be felt throughout the country and even in neighboring Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.

Seven people were pulled out of the rubble dead, according to the defence ministry. Among the deceased are young children.

“My town has been completely destroyed, we have dead children.“This is like Hiroshima – half of the city no longer exists,” Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbovic said in a statement broadcast by HRT TV.

According to local authorities, dozens of people are suspected to be trapped under the wreckage. Rescue efforts are still underway this evening as authorities fear many could die from prolonged exposure to the frigid temperatures.

“Army, firefighters, ambulance – everyone is here. I’ve seen firefighters and ambulance cars arrive, emergency workers checked a child for a pulse and transferred them to hospital," Dumbovic said.

So far six people have been pulled out of the collapsed buildings, alive.

And with many residents left homeless as a result of the earthquake, the army has set up 500 temporary shelters in barracks, others will be taken to nearby hotels courtesy of the government.

Some displaced people have been forced to sleep at a military base. Reuters.

Tuesday's earthquake comes a day after the town was hit by 5.2 magnitude shakes on Monday, which left no one dead, and 5.3 magnitude tremors in March which left one person dead and 27 others injured.

By: Niza Nondo