Croatia mobilising army to help quake-hit Zagreb

(Photo: HINA/Damir SENČAR)

ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) – Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic said on Sunday morning that he has ordered the mobilisation of army staff to help residents of Zagreb which was hit by three strong quakes earlier in the day.

The state leadership held an urgent meeting following the quakes and due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 infection.

Local utilities in the city of zagreb have issues instructions to citizens how to behave in the emergency.

Some parts of the city were left without electricity.

Several buildings in the centre of Zagreb and also a few old churches throughout the city were seriously damaged, while a turret of the cathedral fell down after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit Zagreb and its surroundings at 6:24 a.m. on Sunday morning.

(Photo: HINA/Daneil KASAP)

The most serous damage was visible on old buildings and houses in a several streets in downtown Zagreb.

According to first reports four churches were damaged in the tremors, the epicentre of which was several kilometres north of Zagreb.

(Photo: HINA/Daneil KASAP)

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Sunday that seismological and construction experts would make quick assessments of how much buildings in the centre of zagreb were safe following three quakes that hit the capital city in the morning.

The situation is additionally complicated due to the outbreak of the coronavirus infection, he admitted in an extraordinary news conference.