Earthquake kills five in Croatia

A STRONG earthquake hit central Croatia yesterday, destroying buildings and sending panicked people fleeing into rubblecovered streets in a town south-east of the capital, Zagreb.

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake caused widespread damage in the hardest-hit town, Petrinja. The same area was struck by a 5.2 quake on Monday.

Officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja. Another four people were killed in villages near the town, according to the state HRT television.