Strong 4.9 earthquake in Adriatic felt in southern Croatia

(EMSC/Twitter)

A strong earthquake in the Adriatic Sea, measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale, was felt throughout the Dubrovnik area this morning.

According to information from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was in the Adriatic Sea, 94 kilometres southwest of Dubrovnik, and 104 kilometres northeast of Bari.

The magnitude was 4.9 degrees on the Richter scale and occurred at10:23 . Locals report that they felt the ground shaking for several seconds.

The Croatian Seismological Service of Croatia also announced the earthquake.

2Today, February 23, 2024, at 10 hours and 23 minutes, seismographs of the Seismological Service of the Republic of Croatia recorded a strong earthquake in the Adriatic Sea, 80 km south of the island of Mljet. The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.9 according to the Richter scale. The earthquake was felt in a wider area from Dubrovnik to Zadar.

Marija Mustać Brčić from the Seismological Service told 24sata after the earthquake that they cannot tell if there will be a stronger earthquake, but weaker earthquakes can be expected.

🔎 Deadliest #earthquakes that occurred in recent years within 300km of #Bari (#Italy): 23/11/1980 a M6.7 led to 2483 casualties, 23/07/1930 a M6.7 led to 1404 casualties, and on 15/04/1979 a M6.9 led to 129 casualties. pic.twitter.com/z3DtcQMhfG

— EMSC (@LastQuake) February 23, 2024

“We had a series of noticeable earthquakes, one was moderate, magnitude 3.4, one quite strong, magnitude 3.8, those two were on Pelješac peninsula, and this morning after 10 o’clock there was a strong earthquake with the epicentre in the Adriatic, its magnitude was 4.9. This is normal, and in 2022 there was an earthquake near Pelješac, also in the middle of the Adriatic, earthquakes happen here, we have to accept that, there were quite a few this year – concluded Mustać Brčić.