Croatia, 6.4 magnitude earthquake: damage and collapses
Strong earthquake in Croatia, Petrinja's center is a pile of rubble: "It's like Hiroshima"
Strong earthquake in Croatia: magnitude 6.4, damage and collapsed buildings
Share
30 December 2020In Croatia, throughout last night, excavations continued in the rubble of Petrinja, Sisak and other places affected by the violent earthquake, in search of possible survivors or other possible victims.
The balance of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake is still at least seven dead and dozens injured, many of them in serious conditions.
In the early hours of this morning, as reported by regional media, three other tremors of magnitude 4.9, 4.8 and 4.7 occurred in the Sisak and Petrinja region, about fifty kilometers south of the capital Zagreb, devastated by the earthquake.
So far there have been no reports of further major damage or new victims.
Thousands of people terrified for fear of new collapses spent the night in cars or in the streets, warming themselves with bonfires and sheltering from the cold with blankets and warm clothing.
Petrinja, the hardest hit town, is partially destroyed, but Sisak, the capital of the region affected by the earthquake, Glina, Majske Poljane also suffered considerable damage.
In Zagreb itself - already shaken last March by a strong 5.5 magnitude earthquake - new damage to homes and public buildings was recorded.
The seats of the government and parliament were particularly damaged and were quickly evacuated yesterday.
Rescue and civil protection teams continue to flow into the affected areas from all over the country.
The Army mobilized 300 soldiers, while Italy sent a unit of our civil protection.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced a first aid allocation of 16 million euros.
Aid has been promised by the European Union, and in the next few hours Janez Lenarcic, EU commissioner for crisis management, is expected in the Balkan country.
National mourning on January 2
The Croatian government, which met in an extraordinary session this morning, decided to proclaim January 2 a national day of mourning in memory of the victims of the violent earthquake.
The session of the government, intended to make an initial estimate of the damage, opened with a minute of silence in homage to the seven people who died, according to a still provisional balance sheet.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has appealed to the population to show generosity and to mobilize in aid to the regions affected by the earthquake, an operation that will be managed by civil protection and the Croatian Red Cross.
At the same time, the premier urged citizens not to let their guard down in terms of health prevention and to respect the measures in force, since the epidemiological situation for covid-19 remains complex.
Premier Plenkovis: first allocations of 16 million euros
The Croatian premier Andrej Plenkovic has announced a first allocation of 16 million euros in favor of the localities hit by the strong earthquake.
Quoted by the regional media, the conservative premier added that aid will be requested from the EU, from which solidarity and participation have come.
Plenkovic spoke yesterday on the phone with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who expressed the Union's full readiness to provide aid and support to Croatia.
Krko
nuclear power plant still under arrest The Slovenian Krko nuclear power plant still under automatic safety shutdown.
This was announced by the Italian Nuclear Safety Authority (ISIN - National Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection) which is in constant contact with the Slovenian one (SNSA - Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration).
Following the seismic events of the last few days, whose epicenter was identified in the cities of Sisak and Petrinja, the Krko plant had in fact activated the automatic reactor shutdown safety system and implemented the normal stabilization procedures.
The Slovenian Nuclear Safety Authority reassured: "Situation under control, no malfunctions are reported".
Immediately after the first earthquake was reported, on 28 December, ISIN contacted the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Authority, asking for information about the state of the Krko nuclear power plant.
An exchange of information that has never stopped, allowing a timely update even on the occasion of yesterday's earthquake.
The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) also announced that the event had no impact on the environment, at least from a radiological point of view.
The Italian (ISIN - National Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection) and Slovenian (SNSA - Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration) nuclear safety authorities are in constant contact.
Thanks to a bilateral agreement signed in 2010 and recently renewed, they are committed to guaranteeing cooperation on nuclear safety and the prompt exchange of information in the event of a radiological and nuclear emergency.
Guerini: aid to the Croatian people from Italian Defense
The Defense is providing aid to the Croatian population, severely hit by the earthquake. On the recommendation of the Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini and at the disposal of the Chief of Defense Staff, the Joint Chief Operating Officer immediately arranged for the dispatch - yesterday evening - of Army personnel and 6 vehicles of the Logistics Regiment of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade (4 APS self-dismantling complex vehicles, 1 workshop duchy and 1 AstraHD6 vehicle) for the transport of PROCIV logistic material of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in favor of the Croatian people. "I express my deepest closeness - Minister Guerini said in a statement - to the institutions, families and the Croatian population hit by the earthquake. The bond of friendship between our countries is strong, which is why Croatia can count on help. and on the solidarity of Italy ".
The president of the council of ministers, in agreement with the civil protection department, has ordered the sending of 100 tents to Croatia to face the emergency in progress and to support the rescue and assistance activities to the population affected by the earthquake. The operation, which falls within the scope of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, was arranged following the request for international assistance made by Croatia to the European Commission. The first 50 tents, made available by the Fiuli Venezia Giulia region, left during the night on army convoys. Today another 50 tents, made available by the Veneto region, will reach the city of Petrinja.
Pope Francis: closeness to the population
"Yesterday an earthquake caused serious victims and damage in Croatia. I express my closeness to the wounded and to those affected by the earthquake and I pray in particular for those who lost their lives and for their families", the Pope said at the end of today's general audience, adding: "I hope that the authorities of the country, helped by the international community, will soon be able to alleviate the suffering of the dear Croatian population".