Earthquake injures 17 near Croatian capital amid virus lockdown

A strong earthquake in Croatia on Sunday caused panic, evacuations and damage – all amid a partial coronavirus lockdown.

A 15-year-old was reported to be in a critical condition and 16 other people were injured, authorities confirmed.

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

The epicentre was 7 kilometres (4 miles) north of Zagreb at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles).

Prime minister Andrej Plenkovic said the earthquake was the biggest in Zagreb in the last 140 years.

Many buildings cracked and walls and rooftops were damaged. Streets were littered with debris. Concrete slabs fell on cars and chimneys landed in front of entrances.

Footage from the scene showed mothers dressed in nightgowns hugging their newborn babies in a car park as they evacuated a damaged maternity hospital amid freezing temperatures.

The women, newborn babies and incubators were being moved to a new location with the help of the army.

Zagreb’s iconic cathedral was also damaged, with the top of one of its two spires collapsing.

Power was cut as people ran out of their homes. Several fires were also reported.

Officials first said a 15-year-old was killed, but doctors later said that she was in a critical condition and that they were fighting to save her life.

The earthquake struck amid a partial lockdown of the capital because of the spread of the coronavirus.

Interior minister Davor Bozinovic said the situation was complicated by the virus-related measures in place.

“We face two simultaneous crises, one is unpredictable and the other is invisible,” Mr Bozinovic said.

“There are rules for when there is an earthquake, but when there is an earthquake at the same time as a global pandemic, then it’s a much more complex situation,” he said.