<![CDATA[Strong earthquake shakes Croatia: Buildings collapse and cars crushed after 5.3 strong quake]]> https://usagag.com/2020/03/22/strong-earthquake-shakes-croatia-buildings-collapse-and-cars-crushed-after-5-3-strong-quake/ Sun, 22 Mar 2020 07:57:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com Strong earthquake shakes Croatia: Buildings collapse and cars crushed after 5.3 strong quake A strong earthquake has shaken Croatia and its capital, causing widespread damage and panic. No casualties were initially reported.

The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the earthquake measured 5.3 and struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6.23am (0523 GMT) Sunday.

Witnesses say several buildings have cracked walls and rooftops have been damaged. Downtown streets were littered with debris.

Cars were crushed, a famous cathedral was damaged and electricity and internet service was knocked out as a powerful earthquake rocked Croatia amid the coronavirus crisis.

Cars were crushed when debris fell from a building in the capital Zagreb

The magnitude 5.3 tremor jolted residents from their sleep and sent terrified people – some partially clothed – rushing into the streets as their homes shook.

It was followed by several strong aftershocks on Sunday morning as leaders appealed for them to follow social distancing advice.

Shocking images taken in the aftermath show the damaged Zagreb cathedral, where a spire partially collapsed, as well as buildings that crumbled, sending debris on top of cars and filling streets with rubble.

At least one another tremor was recorded later.

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