Earthquake aftershocks rattle Croatia, keep residents out of homes

close

Video

Slovenian lawmakers evacuate meeting after earthquake rocks Croatia

A strong magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit central Croatia on Tuesday, causing major damage to homes and other buildings in a town southeast of the capital. The shakes were felt in neighboring Slovenia.

PETRINJA, Croatia (AP) – Aftershocks jolted central Croatia on Wednesday, a day after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed at least seven people, injured dozens and left several towns and villages in ruins.

The strongest, a 4.7-magnitude tremor, was recorded near the heavily damaged town of Petrinja, some 25 miles southeast of the capital, Zagreb. Many people had spent the night in tents, their cars or military barracks.

A rescuer walks past a building damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and some 20 injuries in the town southeast of the capital Zagreb. (AP Photo)

EXPLOSION ROCKS YEMEN AIRPORT IN 'COWARDLY TERRORIST ATTACK' AS NEW CABINET MEMBERS LAND

Neven Pavkovic, a resident, said the aftershocks kept him awake: "It was a rough night, I slept maybe half an hour."

In the hard-hit village of Majske Poljane, where five people died, a little boy could be seen sleeping in a van on the chilly morning.

Sobbing villagers said they received blankets, food and other aid but don’t know what they will do next. Rain that fell overnight turned the dust from the rubble into mud, adding to the hardship.

A view of buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and some 20 injuries in the town southeast of the capital Zagreb. (AP Photo)

"We can’t say ‘Good morning,’ It is not good," Petrinja mayor Darinko Dumbovic told Croatian radio. "We had the third and fourth tremors this morning, short ones but strong. What hasn’t fallen off before is falling now from the ruins of Petrinja."

"Fear has crept into people," he said.

Pope Francis prayed for the victims. At the end of his weekly audience, he said: "I particularly pray for those who died and for their families."

A man stands amidst the rubble from buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and some 20 injuries in the town southeast of the capital Zagreb. (AP Photo)

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the government will declare Saturday a day of national mourning. As the government abolished a travel ban between counties that was imposed during the holidays because of the coronavirus pandemic, Plenkovic appealed for respect for other measures.

CROATIA ROCKED BY MAGNITUDE 6.3 EARTHQUAKE

"We are still fighting COVID-19, it wouldn’t be good to relax now," Plenkovic said at a government session.

A view of remains of a car covered by debris and buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and 20 injuries in a town southeast of the capital Zagreb. (AP Photo)

Rescuers spent the night searching through the rubble of heavily damaged buildings for possible survivors.

Officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja, a town of some 25,000 people. At least 26 people were hospitalized with injuries.

Tuesday's quake, the strongest in Croatia since the introduction of the modern seismic measurement system, was felt throughout the region, including neighboring Bosnia, Serbia and Slovenia.

People walk through the rubble from buildings damaged in an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death and some 20 injuries in the town southeast of the capital Zagreb. (AP Photo)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

The central Croatian region was also struck by a 5.2 earthquake on Monday.