An earthquake measuring 6.4 occurred in Croatia and was felt in Italy
, along the Adriatic coast, from Trieste to Abruzzo.
The epicenter was located around
Petrinja
, about fifty kilometers south of Zagreb, a region already hit by earthquakes yesterday.
According to local media, in Petrinja the local
hospital and a kindergarten are
among the collapsed buildings
.
The only confirmed victim of the strong earthquake so far is a 12-year-old girl who died under the rubble in Petrinja.
Local media reports.
The town mayor, Darinko Dumbovic, spoke of total destruction.
"The situation is like in Hiroshima",
he said.
Massive material damage also in Sisak, not far from Petrinja, where numerous injuries are reported.
The frightened population poured onto the streets and into open spaces.
Regional media speak of severe damage in Petrinja, with collapsed buildings, outages of electricity and telephone lines.
The earthquake was felt throughout Croatia but also in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The center of Petrinja would have been completely destroyed by the quake and the Croatian army was mobilized to provide assistance to the people of central Croatia.
According to regional media, at least 300 soldiers left for Petrinja, where the greatest damage was recorded.
Croatian premier Andrej Plenkovic spoke on the phone with the president of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen, who has promised urgent aid from the Union.
"We are ready to provide help, I have asked Commissioner Janez Lenarcik to go to Croatia as soon as the situation allows," said von der Leyen, as reported by local media.
THE VIOLENT SHOCK (VIDEO FROM YOUTUBE)
The strong earthquake was clearly felt in much of the north-east of Italy, up to Ravenna, Bolzano and north of Naples.
Fear in some districts of the Campania capital, where on the upper floors of the houses in the hilly areas the chandeliers have swayed for a long time.
In Veneto there are several reports received by the Fire Brigade which at the moment however do not register damage to property or structures.