2020年彼得里尼亚地震

At 12:19 PM CET (11:19 UTC) on 29 December 2020, an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 Mw (6.2 ML) hit central Croatia, with an epicenter located roughly 3 km (1.9 mi) west-southwest of Petrinja. The maximum felt intensity was estimated at VIII (Heavily damaging) to IX (Destructive) on the European macroseismic scale. Before this event there were three foreshocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 5.2 Mw on the day before. The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.9 Mw.

The adversely affected areas were mostly in the Sisak-Moslavina County and other nearby Croatian counties, as well as some of the nearby areas of Bosnia and Slovenia. There were nine confirmed deaths, including seven during the quake and two workers from falling debris while repairing damaged structures in the aftermath, and 26 people were injured.

Tectonic setting

The epicenter is located in a hilly area just south of the Kupa-Sava alluvial plain, with the Zrinska gora mountain and the rest of the Dinaric Alps to the south.

The Pokuplje seismic area follows the Kupa river valley from Karlovac to Sisak. This area has been affected by several historical earthquakes, the best known being the major event in 1909 with the epicenter near Pokupsko, with aftershocks that continued into 1910. It had a maximum felt intensity of VIII on the MCS scale.……

Earthquake

The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.4 Mw and a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) according to Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) and European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), while the Seismological Survey of Croatia recorded 6.2 ML. The maximum felt intensity was VIII (heavily damaging) to IX (destructive) on the European macroseismic scale (EMS) and IX (Violent) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale (MMI).

Damage

The town of Petrinja was the worst affected, with many buildings collapsed and a major power outage. Damage and power outages were also reported in Dvor, Glina, Gvozd, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Kutina, Sisak, Sunja, Topusko, Velika Gorica, and Zagreb, as well as the neighbouring countries Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.

The total damage was estimated by World Bank consultants in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.……

Sisak-Moslavina County

In Petrinja, the town closest to the epicenter, almost all houses were damaged.……

Casualties

A total of 26 people were injured, with six having serious injuries. Initial reports showed many buildings destroyed in Petrinja.

A 13-year-old girl died and at least 20 others were injured in Petrinja. The town's mayor, Darinko Dumbović, was quoted stating that half of the town was destroyed. A 20-year-old man and his father were killed when their house collapsed in Majske Poljane near Glina. Three other people were later found dead in the same village.……

International reactions

Countries

Albania – €250,000 were allocated by the Albanian government for humanitarian aid and future reconstruction of Petrinja.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Ministry of Security offered the Croatian Ministry of the Interior – the Civil Protection Headquarters – assistance after the earthquake.……

Aftermath

The earthquake prompted a preventive shutdown of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant in Slovenia, roughly 100 km (62 mi) away. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary, roughly 300 km (190 mi) away, also felt the earthquake, but did not cease electricity production.

On 30 December, restrictions on entering and leaving the country were lifted for humanitarian purposes and for earthquake victims. The e-pass system due to COVID-19 which was in place since late December was also cancelled for the same reasons.……