An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude shook Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, leading to the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy and causing injuries to numerous people.
The seismic event occurred at approximately 6:23 am (5:23 am GMT) on Sunday, resulting in fires, structural damage, and crushed vehicles. Furthermore, Zagreb’s iconic cathedral sustained significant damage, with one of its spires collapsing.
The Croatian authorities reported subsequent minor tremors following the initial earthquake.
The country’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, emphasized that this was the most powerful earthquake to hit Zagreb in the last 140 years.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic urged the public to adhere to social distancing measures despite the challenges posed by earthquake damage.
‘We needed to ‘keep their distances’ and avoid gathering where possible. We are facing two serious crises’, he said, ‘the earthquake and the epidemic’.
‘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.’
The government issued an appeal for citizens to remain calm and maintain physical distance throughout the crisis.
‘We appeal to the citizens of the city of Zagreb who came out after the earthquake,’ they wrote on Twitter. ‘Hold a space!’
‘We know you are upset, but keep in mind the situation we are all in. Follow the instructions of the city services and relevant institutions, but first of all, once again, space.’
Croatia has had 235 confirmed cases of coronavirus to date, prompting earlier advice for the public to avoid public areas, such as parks and squares.
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